Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II one of the great spiritual leaders of our era. All Armenians are united in offering their prayers for his soul as he was not only a friend to our people but to all those who seek freedom. I have been fortunate at many points in my ministry to meet with the Pope and benefit from his wisdom. I have vivid memories of the Pope s meetings with His Holiness Karekin I and His Holiness Karekin II. And no one will ever forget the Pope s historic visit to Armenia in 2001 when he stood before the world as a true friend to the Armenian Church recognizing the suffering and tragedy Armenians have borne for their Christian faith but also casting his eyes forward with optimism to our future. Just a few months earlier in 2000 when I was privileged to be a part of the delegation joining Catholicos Karekin II on a visit to Rome the Pope personally acted to return relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. In his actions and his deeds he was indeed a true Christian. Pope John Paul II shared something else with out people: a long but finally successful struggle against tyranny. During the dark days of the Cold War when the Pope s Poland and our own motherland were shrouded in the atheistic fog of communism he stood as a beacon of faith and light to all Christians not just Roman Catholics. Against naysayers and politicians ready to give up to totalitarianism the Pope represented the supreme power of hope faith and freedom. Our shared belief in the importance of religious freedom and the power of Christ is what truly made Pope John Paul II a brother to all Armenians. May our Lord welcome him into His blessed kingdom. With prayers Archbishop Khajag Barsamian Primate