Pashinyan Receives One of the Vatican's Highest Honors

His Holiness Pope Francis has awarded Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan one of the Vatican's highest honors, the Pius IX Knight Grand Cross, as reported by the Prime Minister's press service.

The award was presented to the Prime Minister by Archbishop Jose Avelino Bettencourt, who completed his mission in the Republic.

“To strengthen the ties between Armenia and the Holy See, Archbishop Bettencourt presented Prime Minister Pashinyan with the highest honor of the Holy See bestowed by Pope Francis, the Pius IX Knight Grand Cross,” the statement noted.