On the final day of his official visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, together with his official delegation, paid a significant visit to the Pontifical Armenian College on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. The visit was made at the invitation of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, underscoring the ongoing collaboration between the two spiritual leaders.
During a brief ceremony at the church, His Beatitude extended a heartfelt welcome to His Holiness, highlighting the enduring fraternal relationship between the Holy See of Cilicia and the Patriarchate of the Armenian Catholic Church. He emphasized that, in the face of challenges confronting the Armenian nation, both Churches have consistently stood united, supporting each other in word and deed.
In his address, His Holiness expressed great joy at returning to the Pontifical Armenian College, a place he has visited on many occasions. He lauded the College’s vital role in nurturing the spiritual, cultural, and educational life of the Armenian community in Rome, and commended its ongoing commitment to preserving Armenian heritage.
His Holiness further reaffirmed the exceptional cooperation and mutual respect that characterizes the relationship between the Holy See of Cilicia and the Armenian Catholic Church.
Following the ceremony, His Beatitude hosted an official luncheon, attended by religious leaders, dignitaries, and members of the Armenian community, in honor of His Holiness and his delegation.
As the luncheon concluded, His Holiness presented His Beatitude with a symbolic hand cross as a token of esteem and presented a commemorative cross to the Rector of the College, Father Khatchig Kouyoumjian
