On 12 May 2026, the Executive Committee of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches met at the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome to reflect on the future of their work and assess progress made over the past two decades.

The meeting was co-chaired by His Eminence Cardinal Kurt Koch and His Grace Bishop Kyrillos. Also present were the co-secretaries, His Eminence Archbishop Nareg Alemezian and Reverend Father Hyacinthe Destivelle. Participating as observers were His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, His Eminence Metropolitan Barnaba El Soryany, and His Excellency Bishop Thomas Adly Zaky.

The gathering was held in response to a recommendation made during the Commission’s 2024 plenary meeting. At that time, members proposed that the 20th anniversary of the Joint International Commission should serve as an occasion to evaluate the documents produced by the dialogue and to reflect on its methodology, with a view to identifying possible improvements for future work.

During the Rome meeting, participants engaged in substantial discussion on both the evaluation of the Commission’s past work and the next steps of the dialogue. Their reflections resulted in the drafting of a document that will now be submitted to the respective Church authorities for consideration and possible action.

On Wednesday, 13 May 2026, participants also had the opportunity to greet His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, marking a significant moment during their time in Rome.

The meeting underscored the shared commitment of the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches to deepening mutual understanding and strengthening theological dialogue. As the Commission marks twenty years of work, this latest gathering represents an important step in discerning how the dialogue can continue to develop in the years ahead.