During his visit to the Vatican, Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II met Pope Leon XIV at the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo.
The Catholicos extended heartfelt congratulations to the Pope on his election to the Holy See and his 70th birthday anniversary.
The two spiritual leaders discussed global crises and alarming developments, along with the challenges and trials facing Armenia and the Armenian people. Catholicos Karekin II specifically raised issues concerning forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the preservation of endangered Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage in the region, and the urgent need to release prisoners of war and detainees.
The Catholicos expressed satisfaction with the strengthening brotherly ties between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church, forged through meaningful encounters and shared expressions of faith. He recalled the visits of the late Pope John Paul II to Armenia in 2001 and Pope Francis to Holy Etchmiadzin in 2016, under the theme "Pilgrimage to the First Christian Nation." He also referenced the 2015 Divine Liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica on the centenary of the Armenian Genocide and the declaration of St. Gregory of Narek as a Doctor of the Universal Church.
Karekin II voiced confidence that relations between the two Churches will continue to deepen in the same spirit of brotherhood and warmth, yielding new avenues of collaboration.
The leaders emphasized the Churches' shared mission in promoting justice and peace, fostering harmony among nations, and remaining true to the Gospel’s call to instill faith, hope, and love in humanity. They stressed the importance of uniting Church efforts to spread the Gospel’s light, defend human rights, and contribute to a safer and more prosperous world.
At the end of the meeting, Karekin II extended an official invitation to Pope Leon XIV to visit Armenia.
Members of the Catholicos’ delegation received the Pope’s blessing, and gifts were exchanged.
As part of his Vatican visit, Karekin II also visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he prayed before the tomb of the late Pope Francis for the repose of his soul.
