Catholicos Karekin II gets warm welcome in Marseille

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received a warm welcome from the Armenian community during his visit to Marseille on Friday.

Crowds greeted the Armenian religious leader with applause and chants of “Vehapar” (Pontiff) as he arrived in the southern French city, home to one of Europe’s largest Armenian communities.

Earlier, Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan formally received Karekin II at City Hall.

"This morning, I had the immense honor of welcoming His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, to City Hall,” he posted on X after the meeting.

“I reaffirmed the historic, profound and everlasting ties that unite our city with the Armenian people. Marseille would not be Marseille without the Armenians,” the mayor added.