Pope Leo Meets with Armenian Catholicos Karekin II for the First Time
Catholicos Karekin II's Meetings with Popes: A Timeline
Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has had several significant meetings with Pope Francis throughout his tenure. Let's take a look at some of the key moments in their relationship.
On April 12, 2015, Karekin II was at the Vatican at the invitation of Pope Francis for a Mass in memory of the Armenian martyrs of 1915. During this visit, Pope Francis proclaimed Saint Gregory of Narek a Doctor of the Universal Church.
Karekin II's first visit to Rome was in November 9-10, 2000, as the newly elected Catholicos of All Armenians. During this visit, he met Pope John Paul II, who presented him with the relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.
The first joint declaration between the two churches was signed during Karekin II's and Pope Saint John Paul II's meeting. This was a significant step towards restoring full communion between the two Churches.
Since Karekin II has been in office for 25 years, he did not meet with a pope before 2020. His first meeting with a pope was in September 2020 with Pope Leo XIV, and another meeting took place in 2025. Therefore, the years before 2020 are the ones he did not meet a pope during his tenure so far.
In October 2018, Karekin II met with Pope Francis to discuss the situation that arose following military operations against Artsakh. Both leaders reaffirmed the necessity of peace-peace founded on justice.
Karekin II returned to the Vatican on May 6-9, 2008, at the invitation of Pope Benedict XVI. During this visit, he met with Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
The meeting between Karekin II and Pope Leo XIV was described as "fraternal and cordial." An invitation was extended by Karekin II for Pope Leo XIV to visit Armenia.
Pope John Paul II was the first Pope to visit Armenia, from September 25-27, 2001, to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion. Pope Francis visited Armenia from June 24 to 26, 2016, and again in 2018 to inaugurate a statue of Saint Gregory of Narek in the Vatican Gardens.
During his visits, Karekin II also paid respects to Pope Francis by praying before his tomb in Saint Mary Major Basilica and visited the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches and met with Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, former apostolic nuncio to Armenia, and some superiors.
Various ecclesiastical issues were discussed during the meetings between Karekin II and the popes. The Joint Declaration reaffirmed the common faith in the Triune God, Jesus Christ, and the One, Catholic, Apostolic, and Holy Church.
These meetings have been instrumental in strengthening the relationship between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church, and in fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.
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