I am sure that the grateful sons of the Armenian people will never forget you. Mikayel Minasyan

Former Armenian Ambassador to the Holy See, Mikayel Minasyan, shared memories of his meetings and conversations with Pope Francis on his Facebook page.

՚՚Yes, Your Holiness, we consider the apricot to be an Armenian fruit. Do you remember, during our first meetings, when the conversation lengthened, turning from formal to intimate, I told you that the duduk must be made from apricot wood? You asked why, so the sound would be sweet? I replied, no, probably that wood makes the duduk's sound closest to the human voice. You interrupted me, noting, no, it must sound sweet, our life is bitter enough as it is, it must always be sweetened.

 

I recalled that dialogue during the historic Mass in 2015, when the Armenian duduk sounded in St. Peter's Temple. I have attended many Masses, but only there, by your will and decision, was the duduk specifically included in the ceremony, and the apricot-toned Armenian duduk sounded during the Mass. Sweet as an apricot.

 

When we were planning your visit to Armenia as a pilgrimage to the first Christian country, I noticed that the timing coincided with the new apricot harvest, which you could taste. During those two days you spent in Armenia, with the smile of a child, you constantly tasted apricots, looked for me with your eyes, and showed me half of an apricot.

 

And I remembered every time that despite all the pressure not to go to Armenia, or if you did, to make the visit regional and include Georgia and Azerbaijan, you insisted. You had to go to Armenia, not as an apostolic visit, but as a pilgrim, as a brother of the Armenian people, and stay overnight. And you added with a smile, let us stay for two days so we can eat a lot of apricots, too.

 

A year later, in memory of your visit, I sent you a basket of apricots brought from Armenia. You thanked me with a letter. I was moved when I saw that you had written it personally. Both the letter and even the address on the envelope.

 

In the letter, you spoke about sweetness, how the taste of the apricot reminded you of your sweet days in Armenia. You returned those memories and apricot flavors to Armenia and to me with the same warmth.

 

At the end of the letter, you asked me not to forget you in my prayers. I will never forget. I prayed beside you three days ago in St. Peter's Temple. I was not alone in prayer. Alongside hundreds of thousands of people, with them, and all of us, for you.

 

At the final farewell, I also remembered your words about sweetness. Perhaps apricots grow in paradise. After all, according to legend, the only fruit Noah secretly brought into the ark was the apricot. Descending from Ararat, it was planted in the Armenian Highlands.

 

Your role in the faithful world is undeniable, and for the Armenian people, it is historic. What you have done for us Armenians will never be forgotten.

 

Your declared only universal doctor of the church was one of the greatest Armenians, Narekatsi. Only one out of 36. The only Armenian. The only statue bearing your name is also Narekatsi's, erected in the Vatican Gardens by your will.

 

The only Armenian artifact in the Vatican Museums, the khachkar, was installed during your time. And the duduk made from Armenian apricot wood sounded during the memorial Mass for the victims of the Armenian Genocide, again by your will. At that Mass, you spoke from the altar about the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide.

 

During your time and with your permission, the Vatican's secret archives on the Armenian Genocide were published in several volumes. 1

 

1. The Holy See and the beginnings of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the light of Vatican archives | Cairn.info

 

You have done more than was possible. That is why you are one of the most Armenian-loving Popes of all time, who respected and loved the Armenian people and decided to heal the bleeding wounds of the Armenian people with your sweet smile, love, and care, sincere impulses, soul, and heart. I am sure that the grateful sons of the Armenian people will never forget you.

 

What is not forgotten becomes history. You have become history, too.

 

I will never forget to pray for you, as you asked in the letter.

 

With sweetness, Mikayel Minasyan՚՚.