Showing posts with label Armenian Apostolic Church. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

with Catholicos Aram I at his side, Pope Leo XIV prays for Christian unity and for peace in Middle East & Lebanon

Pope

Pope Leo prays for peace in Lebanon and Middle East

As he greets Armenian Catholicos Aram I at the weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV invites everyone to pray for peace in Lebanon and the Middle East.

By Devin Watkins

Pope Leo XIV renewed his greetings to His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church—See of Cilicia, during the Wednesday General Audience.

Catholicos Aram I joined Pope Leo on the stage in St. Peter’s Square, just two days after the two Church leaders had met and prayed together on Monday, May 18, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

Speaking at the start of the General Audience, Pope Leo expressed his joy to welcome Catholicos Aram I and his delegation, calling his fraternal visit “an important occasion to strengthen the bonds of unity that already exist between us, as we draw closer to full communion between our Churches.”

The Pope prayed that the Holy Spirit may bless the Armenian Catholicos’ pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

“I invite all those present to pray fervently to the Lord that your visit and meetings may constitute a further step on the path towards full unity,” he said.

Pope Leo then urged everyone to pray for peace in Lebanon and the Middle East, which he said are “once again torn apart by violence and war.”

The Catholicosate of Cilicia includes Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf region, Iran, Greece, and the Americas. Since 1930, the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia has been headquartered in Antelias, Lebanon.

Catholicos Apearam I joined Pope Leo on the stage at the Audience (@Vatican Media)

During their meeting on Monday, the Pope assured the Catholicos of his daily prayers and concern for the people of Lebanon and the Churches of the Middle East.

At the General Audience, Pope Leo XIV thanked Catholicos Aram I for his “constant personal commitment to ecumenism,” especially through the theological dialogue taking place between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

“Together,” he concluded, “let us invoke the intercession of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, Saint Gregory of Nareg, Saint Nerses the Gracious and, above all, the Virgin Mother of God, that they may enlighten our path towards the fullness of that unity we all desire.”

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Pope Leo XIV meets with leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church

Pope

Pope Leo XIV to Catholicos Aram I: 'I pray daily for the people of Lebanon'

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church – See of Cilicia, paid a visit to the Holy Father in the Vatican on Monday, marking the first official visit of the Catholicos to Pope Leo. In Pope Leo's address, he expressed his daily prayers for the people of Lebanon and his 'deep concern' for them and the Churches of the Middle East.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church – See of Cilicia, visited Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican on Monday.

The private meeting marking the first official visit of the Catholicos to Pope Leo was followed by a moment of prayer in the Urban VIII Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.

The Catholicos and the Pope praying together (@Vatican Media)

The jurisdiction of the Catholicosate of Cilicia covers Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, the Gulf region, Iran, Greece and the Americas. Since 1930, the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia has been headquartered in Antelias, Lebanon.

During this morning's meeting in the Vatican, Pope Leo addressed the Catholicos about the importance of the faith, the shared bonds among Christians, and the need for followers of Christ to witness unity together.

Unity in faith required for restoration of communion

The Holy Father expressed to the Catholicos of Cilicia his gratitude for his efforts to foster relations with the Catholic Church and for his closeness to the Church of Rome.

The Pope thanked Catholicos Aram I for his personal commitment to promoting theological dialogue between their Churches, which he recalled has been taking place since 2003 within the framework of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church – See of Cilicia pays a visit to Pope Leo in the Vatican (@Vatican Media)

Pope Leo said he sincerely hopes "that, despite recent difficulties, this dialogue will continue with renewed vigor," noting, "for there can be no restoration of communion between our Churches without unity in faith."

Pope Leo's 'deep concern' for the people of Lebanon and for the Churches of the Middle East

The Pope said the Catholicos' presence brought to mind "beloved" Lebanon, which he recalled with fondness visiting last December.

Pope Leo observed that for so long, the country "has shown the whole world that it is possible for people of diverse cultures and religions to live together as one nation," but lamented that it continues to face severe trials.

"At a time when the unity and integrity of your country are once again under threat," Pope Leo said, "our Churches are called to strengthen the fraternal bonds that unite not only Christians amongst themselves, but also with their brothers and sisters from other communities in their shared homeland."

"Your Holiness," the Holy Father continued, "I assure you of my daily prayers and of the deep concern I feel for the people of Lebanon and for the Churches of the Middle East."

Finally, Pope Leo XIV expressed his gratitude that he and the Catholicos, ahead of the Solemnity of Pentecost, would be able to pray together for unity, enduring peace, and to renew the face of the earth.

During Catholicos Aram I's time in Rome, he will also visit the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and other Dicastery's of the Roman Curia, and, on Tuesday, the Catholicos will give a public lecture on the challenges faced by the Churches in the Middle East at the Pontifical Oriental Institute.