Catholicos Aram I and Armenian Clergy Sing “Cilicia” in the Vatican With Pope Leo XIV Standing Alongside Them

On May 20, 2026, Pope Leo XIV presided over the regular Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, where he publicly welcomed Aram I during the Armenian Catholicos’ official visit to the Vatican. The meeting was on the ongoing efforts toward closer ties between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church while also focusing attention on growing concerns over violence and instability in the Middle East.

Aram I attended the audience together with members of the delegation accompanying him from the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia. During the event, Pope Leo XIV made a special public greeting to the Armenian Catholicos, who were seated beside him on the central platform in St. Peter’s Square.

Before opening the audience, Pope Leo XIV made his way through the square, greeting and blessing the faithful gathered there. He then addressed the crowd and welcomed Aram I and the Armenian delegation.

“Dear brothers and sisters,” the Holy Father said, “I am very pleased to welcome His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Cilicia, together with the distinguished delegation accompanying him. This fraternal visit represents an important opportunity to strengthen the bonds of unity that already exist among us as we move closer toward the full unity of our Churches.”

The Pontiff then continued his remarks in English and referred to the upcoming Pentecost celebrations, while also emphasizing the importance of church unity and prayers for peace in the Middle East.

“Your Holiness, in these days as we prepare for Pentecost, I pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit upon your pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and I invite all those present to fervently pray to the Generous Lord so that your visit and meetings may become another step on the path toward full unity. Let us also pray for peace in Lebanon and the Middle East, which are once again being torn apart by violence and war,” the Pontiff said.

Pope Leo XIV also thanked Aram I for his long-standing personal efforts toward strengthening cooperation and dialogue between Christian churches, particularly in the international theological discussions between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

“Welcome, Your Holiness, dear bishops, and dear friends. Together let us seek the intercession of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, Saint Gregory of Narek, Saint Nerses Shnorhali, and above all the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, so that they may enlighten our path toward the full unity that we all desire.”

The public appearance of the two church leaders together came during a broader official visit by Aram I to the Vatican, where discussions have focused on Christian unity, regional peace, and the situation facing Christian communities in the Middle East.

At the conclusion of the audience, Pope Leo XIV greeted the senior clergymen who were part of the Armenian delegation. Following the greetings, those standing beside the Pontiff jointly sang the song “Cilicia” and later the hymn “I Veh Bardzants Surb Sioni.”

During the final lines of the hymn, blessings were proclaimed both for the Holy See of Cilicia and, for the first time, for the Holy See of Rome.

“Protect, O Lord, the Holy See of Cilicia unshaken. Long live forever Lord Aram, the Catholicos.”

The participants then added:

“Protect, O Lord, the Holy See of Rome unshaken. Long live forever Lord Leo, the Pontiff.”

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