Pope Francis described his forthcoming visit to Armenia as a “Christian pilgrimage.” He added that this should further strengthen political and religious links between Armenia and the Roman Catholic Church.

“I ask you to pray for me, who in a few days will go as a pilgrim in an eastern land, Armenia, the first among the nations to have received Jesus in the Gospel,” said the Pope would by François Italian news agency ANSA. He reportedly said this on Thursday at the meeting of aid agencies for Eastern Churches.

Pope Francis will arrive in Armenia June 24 He will meet with President Serzh Sargsyan will attend joint religious services with clergymen of the Armenian Apostolic Church and will hold an outdoor Mass for the Catholic community of Armenia.

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, head of the Congregation of Oriental Churches in the Vatican, said this week that the three-day visit of the Pope is a “gesture of affection and admiration” for the Christian heritage of Armenia .

“It will be an act of devotion to this country, the first to adopt Christianity in 301 when Saint Gregory the Illuminator led the entire nation to conversion and baptism,” said Sandri during an interview newspaper “La Stampa”.

“The pope will bring gratitude and appreciation for the people who were trained by the Christian spirit and managed to protect the precious treasure of faith and their identity for centuries,” he added. “This is the spiritual power which Armenia can build a future of peace and hope.”

Sandri described the Vatican’s relationship with the Armenian Apostolic Church as “very fraternal and particularly friendly.” He also praised the tolerant attitudes of the church towards the Catholic minority in Armenia, concentrated in the northwestern province of Shirak .

Sandri inaugurated a new Armenian Catholic church in the provincial capital of Gyumri in September. President Serzh Sargsyan also attended the ceremony, emphasizing the warm relation of the Armenian government with the Vatican.