ARCHBISHOPS ANOUSHAVAN, KEGHAM REPRESENT HOLY SEE OF CILICIA AT POPE’S ENTHRONEMENT IN ROME
His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, represented the Holy See of Cilicia at the enthronement of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, May 18, in Rome. The ceremony marked the official beginning of the newly elected Pontiff’s tenure as head of the Catholic Church.
By directive of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Archbishop Anoushavan and His Eminence Archbishop Kegham, Prelate of the Western Prelacy, conveyed the greetings and fraternal prayers of the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia to the new Pope. Their participation in this solemn occasion underscores the strong commitment of Catholicos Aram I to ecumenism. His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, making a pun on the words “wind” and “spirit,” which share the same meaning in the Scriptures, remarked to Pope Leo XIV: “Your Holiness, since you are a child of the Windy City, I pray that throughout your pontificate the Holy Wind prevails more effectively upon mankind in general and most especially in the life of Christendom.”
The Armenian Apostolic Church was further represented by delegates from the four hierarchical sees. From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the delegation included His Beatitude Archbishop Sahak, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, and His Eminence Archbishop Khajag, Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the Holy See (Vatican). The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem was represented by His Grace Bishop Koryoun and Chancellor Rev. Fr. Aghan Kokchian.
The Armenian Church delegation at the Pope’s enthronement highlights the importance it places on continued dialogue with Rome at a particularly challenging time in global affairs and inter-church relations.
On Saturday, May 17, Archbishops Anoushavan and Kegham attended a reception organized by Archbishop Khajag in honor of Patriarch Sahak of Constantinople. On Sunday, May 18, following the inauguration ceremony, the Vatican hosted a reception to mark the installation of Pope Leo XIV. The same evening, the Armenian Apostolic Church delegates were hosted at the Pontifical Armenian College of Rome by Armenian Catholic Patriarch, His Beatitude Raphaël Bedros XXI, and his entourage.
