Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II received a delegation of Catholic clergy from the Diocese of Trieste, Italy, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on October 20. The delegation was led by the diocesan bishop, Enrico Trevisi.
The Catholicos of All Armenians offered his blessing to those present, reflecting on the mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the role of Christianity in shaping and preserving the Armenian people’s national identity and culture. His Holiness added that the Armenian people had overcome centuries of hardship through their Christian faith and optimism, remaining consistently united around the Church.
Bishop Enrico Trevisi introduced the visitors to His Holiness, explaining that the purpose of their pilgrimage was to strengthen their Christian faith and, fortified by brotherly love, devote themselves to preaching the Gospel.
The Catholicos also expressed satisfaction with the close relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church, as well as their productive cooperation in various fields. He emphasized that the visit was further evidence of these fraternal ties. His Holiness underscored the importance of such pilgrimages in fostering spiritual renewal and deepening mutual understanding between Christian communities.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Catholicos answered questions from the visitors concerning interchurch relations and the Armenian Apostolic Church’s spiritual and educational mission in the modern era.
A report entitled “On the Crisis in the Church Resulting from the Activities of the De Facto Head of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and Several Senior Clergymen, and Ways to Resolve It” has been published. The report states that its preparation stems from the Armenian government’s 2026–2031 program and was commissioned by the Armenian prime minister. It was prepared by the Public Relations and Information Center, a state non-commercial organization.
As a first step, the report proposes establishing a Reform Coordination Group comprising clergy and laypeople and publishing a procedure for expanding its membership. The second proposed step is the “removal of the de facto head” of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
