Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Lebanon and Middle East alongside Aram I

(Horizon Media / VATICAN ) – During his weekly General Audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV renewed his call for peace in Lebanon and across the Middle East while welcoming Aram I to St. Peter’s Square.

Addressing the faithful gathered in the audience, the Pope described the Catholicos’ visit as “an important occasion” to strengthen ties between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church as both sides continue efforts toward closer unity.

Pope Leo urged believers to pray for Lebanon and the wider Middle East, warning that the region is “once again torn apart by violence and war.”

The appearance of Aram I at the General Audience came two days after the two church leaders met privately at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, where they prayed together and discussed the situation facing Christians and regional communities in the Middle East.

During their May 18 meeting, Pope Leo XIV also announced the inclusion of Saint Nerses the Gracious, known in Armenian tradition as Nerses Shnorhali, in the Roman Martyrology, the Catholic Church’s official list of saints. The Vatican described the decision as a reflection of the “ecumenism of the saints” and a recognition of the shared spiritual heritage linking the Churches. Saint Nerses will be commemorated in the Roman Martyrology each year on August 13, marking the anniversary of his death in 1173.

The Pope also praised Aram I for his longstanding commitment to ecumenical dialogue, particularly through ongoing theological discussions between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.