At Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday morning, history quietly repeated itself, as two ancient Christian traditions met under the same Mediterranean sky. Pope Leo XIV, in his first encounter with Catholicos Karekin II, spiritual head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, opened the doors of Villa Barberini in a gesture of fraternity that echoed centuries of dialogue and longing for unity.
The occasion carried the weight of continuity. Karekin II, who has shepherded the Armenian Church for a quarter of a century, has stood before three Popes—St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. Yet this meeting bore a freshness of its own: a first exchange between the newly elected Bishop of Rome and the Catholicos of All Armenians, a moment both symbolic and deeply human.
A Meeting Woven with Hope
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the Armenian Church’s representative to the Holy See, described the atmosphere as “fraternal and cordial.” But beneath the gentle words lay layers of urgency. The Catholicos spoke not only of ecclesial matters but also of the fate of his people in Artsakh, a land scarred by conflict, displacement, and uncertainty.
“Peace,” he reminded, “must be founded on justice.” It was a phrase that hung in the air, timeless and uncompromising, as though echoing the voices of countless Armenians who have endured exile and hardship yet held fast to faith. Pope Leo listened intently, affirming the Church of Rome’s solidarity and its commitment to seek peace alongside its brothers in the East.
Invitation Across the Mountains
From Castel Gandolfo, the conversation stretched eastward, toward the rugged Armenian highlands. With deliberate solemnity, Catholicos Karekin invited Pope Leo to visit Armenia, just as John Paul II did in 2001 and Francis in 2016. Such visits have always transcended protocol: they are pilgrimages of remembrance, gestures of recognition, and beacons of hope for a people whose Christian roots run to the very first centuries of the faith.
Though no date was fixed, the invitation itself was laden with symbolism. A papal visit to Armenia would not only affirm historical friendship but also strengthen the morale of a nation seeking stability amid shifting geopolitical sands.
Conversations at the Vatican
Later in the day, the Catholicos and his delegation made their way to the Vatican. There, the tone shifted from ceremony to dialogue. Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, welcomed the Armenian leader to discuss steps toward closer theological and pastoral cooperation. Another meeting with Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, turned the focus to the safeguarding of Christian heritage, a cause deeply cherished by Armenians, guardians of some of Christianity’s most ancient manuscripts, liturgies, and monasteries.
These conversations underscored that ecumenism is not an abstract dream but a tapestry woven strand by strand—through shared scholarship, mutual recognition, and cultural exchange.
Prayers of Continuity
The day took a contemplative turn in the afternoon, as the Catholicos entered the hushed grandeur of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. There, before the tomb of Pope Francis—his former companion in dialogue and friendship—Karekin II knelt in prayer. It was a moment thick with symbolism: fraternity does not die with leaders, but continues across generations, binding traditions in the rhythm of prayer.
He then moved to the icon of the Salus Populi Romani, long venerated as Rome’s protector in times of trial. Before its serene gaze, he prayed for peace and reconciliation, carrying with him the wounds of his nation and the hopes of all who long for unity.
Toward a Common Witness
Tuesday’s encounter was more than ceremonial. It was, in many ways, a parable for a fractured world. Here were two leaders of ancient Churches, divided by history yet bound by shared faith, testifying that dialogue is stronger than division and that hope outlives despair.
For the Armenian Church, the day was a chance to draw the world’s gaze to its trials and resilience. For Pope Leo XIV, it was an occasion to affirm that the Catholic Church walks not alone but with all who confess Christ.
The invitation to Armenia, the solemn prayers, and the quiet conversations all form a thread of continuity—stretching back to apostles and martyrs, and forward to generations yet unborn. In the words of Archbishop Barsamian, reflecting on the day’s events: “It was a day of fraternity, of peace, and of hope.”
