Catholicos Aram I criticizes Vatican's unilateral conference on 'Christianity in Azerbaijan'

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia on Friday sent a letter to Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.

In his message, Catholicos Aram I expressed deep sorrow and protest regarding the conference titled “Christianity in Azerbaijan,” held at the Vatican’s Gregorian University. He criticized the conference for being organized unilaterally, noting that the topics discussed and the speakers involved, particularly those related to the Armenian Church, were unjust, especially given the absence of Armenian speakers, the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia reported.

"His Holiness reminded Cardinal Gugerotti, a recognized expert in Armenian studies, of the longstanding relationship between the Armenian and Aghvan churches that had existed since the early centuries of Christianity. He also highlighted the active and organized presence of the Armenian Church in Artsakh to this day. In his letter, His Holiness brought attention to the forced displacement of the indigenous Armenians from Artsakh, which was orchestrated by the Azerbaijani authorities as part of their genocidal policy. At the same time, His Holiness acknowledged the Vatican authorities’ positive stance regarding matters concerning the Armenians of Artsakh. He expressed confidence that the Vatican would not endorse the one-sided and inaccurate perspectives presented at the aforementioned conference," reads the statement.