His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, arrived in Rome on Sunday morning, May 17, for a visit marked by fraternal encounters and ecumenical engagement at Vatican.

Present at Fiumicino Airport to welcome His Holiness was His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Representative of the Catholicosate of All Armenians to the Vatican, together with officials of the Vatican and members of the Brotherhood of the Great House of Cilicia. Archbishop Barsamian’s presence at the airport reflected the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation that continues to characterize relations within the Armenian Church.

During the visit, Archbishop Barsamian took part in several important events connected with the presence of Catholicos Aram I in Rome. At the invitation of the Rector of the Gregorian University, Archbishop Barsamian attended the lecture delivered by His Holiness Aram I at the Pontifical Oriental Institute addressing the challenges faced by Middle Eastern churches, as well as the luncheon that followed.

Archbishop Barsamian was also invited by His Eminence Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, to attend a dinner held on the evening of Monday, May 18, in honor of His Holiness Aram I. The gathering underscored the warm and continuing relations between the Holy See and the Armenian Apostolic Church, especially in the shared pursuit of Christian unity and mutual understanding.

In addition, Archbishop Barsamian was among the guests invited by His Holiness Aram I to a dinner at the Domus Santa Marta. This occasion offered another meaningful setting for fellowship and conversation during the Catholicos’s stay in Rome.

The visit of His Holiness Aram I to Rome stands as a significant expression of the deep historical ties between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian’s participation in the major events of the visit further emphasized the importance of Armenian ecclesiastical representation at the Holy See and the enduring commitment to ecumenical dialogue, friendship, and collaboration.