Pope Leo XIV held prayers at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Istanbul on Sunday before leaving for Lebanon.

Seeking to strengthen Vatican ties with the Armenian Apostolic Church, Pope Leo thanked God for “the courageous Christian witness of the Armenian people throughout history, often amid tragic circumstances.”

Photo: Pope Leo XIV meets with Armenian Apostolic Church Patriarch of Constantinople Sahak II Mashalian at the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 30, 2025./ Credit: Vatican Media