Armenian Catholicos Proposes Third Vatican Council to Pope Leo XIV

The Armenian Catholicos Aram I shared details of his private meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, revealing he raised significant concerns for the future of Christianity. The Armenian Apostolic Church of Cilicia released the statement following the audience on May 18, noting that Aram I presented the Pope with three urgent issues for the universal Church: a common date for Easter, a commemoration day for all Christian martyrs, and the celebration of a new universal council.

The Armenian Church’s official note highlighted the proposal for a “Third Vatican Council,” a term used by the Armenian Church itself. While the statement did not specify how such a council should be structured or what issues it would address, the mention of a new ecumenical council has reignited discussions about the current state of the Church and the doctrinal, liturgical, and pastoral tensions since Vatican II.

To date, the Holy See has not issued any specific response to Aram I’s proposal. The Armenian Catholicos also emphasized the need for a common Easter date between Catholics and Orthodox, a long-standing goal of the ecumenical movement. He proposed a commemoration day for all Christian martyrs, stressing the importance of raising awareness about the global persecution of Christians.

Leo XIV expressed “understanding and support” for the issues raised by Aram I during their conversation. The Armenian leader also addressed political and humanitarian matters in the Middle East and the Caucasus. He defended the right of Armenians from Artsakh to return to their lands under international guarantees and called for the protection of Armenian churches and historical monuments in accordance with international law.

Aram I also requested the immediate release of Armenian leaders currently detained in Baku. Regarding Lebanon, he urged the preservation of the country’s sovereignty, called for an Israeli withdrawal from the south, and advocated maintaining the ceasefire. These issues reflect the Armenian Catholicos’ ongoing engagement with both spiritual and geopolitical challenges affecting the Christian community.

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