In Vatican, Pope discusses with Pashinyan situation of Catholics in Armenia
Pope Leo and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. Photo: Vatican Media
In the Vatican on October 20, 2025, Pope Leo III received the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan – a meeting that took place against the backdrop of escalating tensions around the Armenian Apostolic Church and its head, Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians.
According to the website vaticannews, the pontiff held an audience for the Armenian Prime Minister, after which negotiations took place at the Secretariat of State, where Pashinyan met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
The parties noted the good relations between Armenia and the Vatican, discussed the situation of Catholics in the republic, and emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
As reported, the visit of the Armenian Prime Minister coincided with an acute internal crisis in the spiritual life of the country. Two days after the meeting with the Pope – on October 22 – Pashinyan declared in parliament that Catholicos Karekin II was defrocked for a breach of celibacy.
Read also
Kharkiv metropolitan offers condolences after tragedy in Bohodukhiv
Metropolitan Onufriy sent words of support to the mother of three young children who were killed, as well as to their father, in Kharkiv Region.
Police in frontline Yurkivka help evacuate icons from damaged UOC church
The rector of the UOC Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos appealed to the police due to the worsening security situation.
OCU сreates “сlone” of Krupytskyi Monastery after UOC expulsion
The OCU Synod has decided to establish the “Baturyn St. Nicholas–Krupytskyi Men’s Monastery.”
OCU thanks Novovolynsk mayor for transporting people to Dumenko's "service"
Supporters of the OCU sent gratitude to Mayor Borys Karpus for providing transportation to the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr.
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy comments on seizure in Kuzmyn
The seizure of the UOC church in Kuzmyn was based on forged documents about changing jurisdiction to the OCU.
Restoration of St Florus Convent: Former KCSA official reported suspicion
A former deputy general director of the Kyiv Scientific and Methodological Center for the Protection and Restoration of Monuments is suspected of embezzling 660 thousand hryvnias of budget funds.