Pope Leo XIV renewed his greetings to His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church—See of Cilicia, during the Wednesday, May 20,  General Audience.

Catholicos Aram I joined Pope Leo on the stage in St. Peter’s Square, just two days after the two Church leaders had met and prayed together on Monday, May 18, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

Speaking at the start of the General Audience, Pope Leo expressed his joy to welcome Catholicos Aram I and his delegation, calling his fraternal visit “an important occasion to strengthen the bonds of unity that already exist between us, as we draw closer to full communion between our Churches.”

The Pope prayed that the Holy Spirit may bless the Armenian Catholicos’ pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

“I invite all those present to pray fervently to the Lord that your visit and meetings may constitute a further step on the path towards full unity,” he said.