Pope Francis and Catholicos Aram I Meet

The Facebook page of the Armenian Church of Cilicia reports that today, Catholicos Aram I met with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

"Today, Thursday, July 1, 2021, a meeting of Christian spiritual leaders took place in the Vatican’s Papal Hall in the presence of His Holiness Pope Francis. Prior to the meeting, a collective prayer was held at St. Peter’s Basilica.

During the first session of the meeting, His Holiness Aram I, the Catholicos of Cilicia, delivered a lecture on the topic: 'The Current Socio-Political Crisis in Lebanon and the Possible Measures to Address It.' Following His Holiness's presentation, a wide-ranging discussion took place for about two hours. Attendees responded positively to the Catholicos's pragmatic analyses, clarifying issues and the viewpoints presented for bringing the country out of its current political and economic crisis.

During the second session, the Maronite Patriarch delivered a lecture on 'The Humanitarian and Educational Role of the Church in Light of Lebanon's Current Situation.' Participants shared the Patriarch’s concerns but expressed some reservations regarding his proposed neutrality and the idea of organizing an international conference for Lebanon.

It is worth noting that the Catholicos frequently provided clarifications during both sessions, emphasizing the importance of Christian-Muslim coexistence and the imperative of discussing issues and seeking solutions within this framework.

In the afternoon, the spiritual leaders and members of their accompanying delegations were hosted for lunch by Pope Francis. The meeting will continue after midday," the statement reads.