Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Marseille Mayor-Led Delegation
04.05.2025
On May 4, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received a delegation at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin led by Mr. Benoît Payan, Mayor of Marseille, France. The delegation included representatives of the municipal authorities and the Armenian community.
H.E. Olivier Decottignies, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Armenia, also attended the meeting.
His Holiness emphasized that the delegation’s visit to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, in these difficult times, stands as yet another testament to the enduring Armenian-French friendship and the solidarity extended by the French authorities.
The Catholicos noted with appreciation the close cooperation between the Marseille city administration and the local Armenian community, recalling with gratitude that many survivors of the Armenian Genocide found refuge in Marseille, where they established a vibrant national and spiritual life, contributing meaningfully to the progress of their host country.
In turn, Mayor Benoît Payan expressed his gratitude to His Holiness for the audience, highlighting the historical ties between the Armenian and French peoples. He underscored the vital role of the Armenian community and its organisations in the life and development of the city. Mayor Payan also reaffirmed his commitment to exert all necessary efforts to support the Armenian people as they confront present-day challenges.
