Catholicos-Patriarch of Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel meets Pope Francis in Vatican

VATICAN — Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel paid a visit to the Vatican where he was received by Pope Francis.

During the visit, the importance of cooperation between the various Churches in Christendom was stressed and the situation of Christians in the Middle East was examined.

The visit comes following Patriarch Mar Awa III Royel’s visit to Russia.

Patriarch Mar Awa III Royel’s visit to the Vatican is his first visit after his election as Patriarch in September 2021.

During the visit, the Pope emphasized the extent of the rapprochement between the two Churches over the past decades, and touched on the visits made by the heads of other Churches of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people to the Vatican.

The Pope valued the visits and dialogues undertaken by the Patriarch, saying that they carry great signs of hope for creating cooperation and good relations that would enrich and unite the believers. He added that it is necessary for the Churches to bear witness to the love of Christ and the Church.

During the visit, the situation of Christians of the Middle East, who are forced to leave their lands as a result of oppression and encroachment on their lands, was also discussed.  

They also discussed ways to mend the schism between the Churches and unify the celebration of Easter.