Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV welcomed His Holiness Aram I to the Vatican on Monday, assuring him of his daily prayers for the people of Lebanon and expressing deep concern for the Churches of the Middle East.
The meeting marked the first official visit of Catholicos Aram I to Pope Leo XIV since the Pope’s election. Following their private audience, the two Church leaders gathered for prayer in the Urban VIII Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, offering a strong sign of unity between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church.
During the meeting, Pope Leo spoke warmly about the long standing relationship between the two Churches and highlighted the importance of Christians working together in faith and unity. He thanked the Catholicos for his efforts in strengthening ties with the Catholic Church and for his close relationship with the Church of Rome.
The Pope also praised Aram I for his personal commitment to theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. He recalled that formal dialogue has continued since 2003 through the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
Despite difficulties faced in recent years, Pope Leo expressed hope that the dialogue would continue with renewed strength.
“There can be no restoration of communion between our Churches without unity in faith,” the Pope said, underlining the importance of continued cooperation and mutual understanding among Christians.
The Pope’s reflections then turned toward Lebanon, a country closely linked to the mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church See of Cilicia. The Catholicosate has its headquarters in Antelias, Lebanon, and its jurisdiction extends across Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf region, Iran, Greece and the Americas.
Recalling his own visit to Lebanon last December, Pope Leo described the country as a place that has long shown the world how people of different cultures and religions can live together as one nation. At the same time, he acknowledged the many hardships Lebanon continues to face.
“At a time when the unity and integrity of your country are once again under threat, our Churches are called to strengthen the fraternal bonds that unite not only Christians among themselves, but also with their brothers and sisters from other communities in their shared homeland,” the Pope said.
He then personally assured the Catholicos of his closeness to the suffering people of the region.
“Your Holiness, 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,” Pope Leo said.
The meeting took place ahead of the Solemnity of Pentecost, and the Pope noted that their common prayer together was a sign of hope for Christian unity, lasting peace and renewal in the world.
During his visit to Rome, Catholicos Aram I is also expected to meet officials from the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and other departments of the Roman Curia. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to deliver a public lecture at the Pontifical Oriental Institute focusing on the challenges facing Churches in the Middle East.