Meeting of Cardinal Koch with Catholicos Karekin II and Patriarch Sahak II

On 7 October at Domus Sanctae Marthae Cardinal Kurt Koch met with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, together with His Beatitude Sahak II, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, within the context of their visit to Rome.

In his introductory greeting at the dinner in honour of the guests, Cardinal Koch welcomed His Holiness Karekin II and His Beatitude Sahak II, on his first visit to the Vatican, and expressed congratulations to His Beatitude Raphaël Bedros XXI, who was also present, on his recent election as Catholic Patriarch to the See of Cilicia. Recalling Saint Nerses the Gracious, one of the Christian figures to be honoured by UNESCO in 2022‒2023, Cardinal Koch expressed the hope that the saint’s example may inspire Christians on their journey towards full unity.

The dinner was also attended by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State; Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches; Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the Holy See; Most Reverend Boghos Levons Zekiyan, Archbishop of Istanbul and Turkey of the Armenian Catholics; Bishop Brian Farrell, PCPCU Secretary; His Grace Tatev Hakobyan, Primate of the Armenian Church in Romania; and His Grace Moushegh Babayan, Grand Sacristan of Holy Etchmiadzin.