Canada’s new Ambassador to Lebanon visits Catholicos Aram I in Antelias

(Horizon Weekly) – Canada’s newly appointed Ambassador to Lebanon and Syria, Gregory Galligan, paid an official visit to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Antelias, where he met with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, on Thursday, December 18.

Ambassador Galligan, who recently assumed his post in Beirut, succeeds Stefanie McCollum. He formally presented his credentials to the President of Lebanon, General Joseph Aoun, on September 3. The meeting in Antelias provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on the current political and social situation in Lebanon and Syria, as well as broader regional developments.

Welcoming the ambassador on the occasion of his new appointment, His Holiness outlined the pan-Armenian mission of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, emphasizing its spiritual, national, and community-centered role, particularly in the Middle East and the Armenian Diaspora.

During the discussion, His Holiness also shared his reflections on ongoing sociopolitical challenges in the region, underlining the need for stability, justice, and cooperation. He stressed the importance of inter-religious dialogue and the protection of Christian and minority communities as essential pillars of lasting peace and coexistence.

The visit also comes amid continued engagement between the Catholicosate and Canadian officials. Earlier this fall, during his pontifical visit to North America, His Holiness Aram I met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa, accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Papken Tcharian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada, and executives of the Armenian National Committee of Canada. In addition to discussions on developments in the Middle East, the meeting addressed issues concerning the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh, underscoring the importance of sustained dialogue grounded in human rights, peace, justice, and mutual respect.