Pope Leo sends letter of gratitude to Patriarch Sahak II Mashalian

Pope Leo XIV has sent a letter of gratitude to Sahak II Mashalian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.

The letter follows Pope Leo’s visit to Istanbul, during which he visited the Holy Mother of God Patriarchal Church on November 30, 2025, and met with Patriarch Sahak II.

“With a grateful heart, I wish to thank you once again for your warm welcome at the Holy Mother of God Patriarchal Church and the opportunity to reflect on ecumenical relations and the contributions made in this regard by the Armenian Apostolic Church,” the Pope said.

“Such moments only serve to strengthen and deepen the fraternal bonds between our two Churches. Please know that I look forward to future encounters on the path of restoring full communion.

“Assuring you of a remembrance in my prayers, I humbly ask for a remembrance in yours. May the Theotokos intercede for us both before the throne of her Son,” reads the letter.