Beirut: Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian of the Armenian Catholic Church has described Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Visit to Türkiye and Lebanon as a journey that planted “seeds of hope, unity, peace, and justice” across a region marked by hardship yet sustained by unwavering faith.
In an interview following the conclusion of the Pope’s first Apostolic Journey, the Patriarch said the visit left a profound spiritual imprint on communities who have long carried their struggles in silence.
Recalling the Pope’s interactions with Christian communities in both countries, Patriarch Minassian said the Pontiff was deeply moved by the courage, vitality, and fidelity of the believers he encountered.
“In this corner of the world,” he noted, “there exists a people who believe, who suffer quietly, yet whose resilience prevails.” He highlighted the Pope’s encounters with young people and the emotional closing Mass on the Beirut Waterfront as moments that revealed the depth of the community’s spirit.
The Patriarch described his personal meeting with Pope Leo XIV with heartfelt emotion, saying the Pope’s empathy was palpable.
“When I spoke to him about the reality we face, you could feel from his gaze that he was carrying our pain,” Minassian said. “He absorbs the hurt, holds it within his own heart, and transforms it into something positive into a deep and enduring hope.”
He underlined that true peace in the region cannot be separated from justice, stressing that the cry for peace ringing out across the Middle East must be rooted in both social renewal and personal transformation.
A significant highlight of the papal journey, the Patriarch noted, was the Pope’s invitation to all Christian Churches to gather in Jerusalem for the 2033 Jubilee of Redemption, commemorating 2,000 years since the traditional date of Christ’s death and resurrection.
“This is a beginning,” Minassian said. “Unity is already alive in the hearts of God’s people.” He entrusted the path toward greater Christian unity to the power of prayer, calling it “an invincible weapon.”
Reflecting on the immense turnout for the papal Mass, the Patriarch said he was deeply moved by the sight of more than 100,000 faithful gathered in prayer.
“This is why we are never alone,” he said, adding that this shared faith is the foundation on which the region must continue its journey forward.
As the Middle East continues to navigate complex social and political challenges, Patriarch Minassian said Pope Leo XIV’s visit has offered renewed strength a reminder that even in pain, hope can be reborn.