The Catholicos of All Armenians Meets Pope Francis in Vatican

On October 6, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, met with His Holiness Pope Francis in Vatican City. During the conversation, the Pontiff addressed the catastrophic consequences of the 44-day war and the current challenges faced by Armenia and Artsakh, particularly emphasizing the issue of the return of prisoners of war and those who remained in captivity after the war.

His Holiness also expressed gratitude to the Holy Father for the support extended to the Armenian people and Armenia during the war. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Pope blessed the members of the delegation led by the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Subsequently, the Catholicos-led delegation met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State. The discussions addressed the situation that emerged in the region following the 44-day war, particularly focusing on the safety of the people of Artsakh, encroachments on Armenia's sovereign territories, and the preservation of Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage in areas under Azerbaijani control. The Catholicos of All Armenians highly emphasized the importance of the role of the international community in overcoming the existing challenges and issues.