The canonization ceremony of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan and six other blesseds took place in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, presided over by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

During the ceremony, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV welcomed the leaders participating in the ceremony, including the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella and other high-ranking guests.

During the canonization ceremony, an Armenian prayer was also recited in honor of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan. His Holiness conveyed his message and blessing to all present.

Within the framework of the event, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a brief meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the dinner in honor of canonization of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan.

The dinner was given on behalf of His Holiness Raphael Petros 21st, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also attended the dinner.

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Ignatius Maloyan was born on April 8, 1869 in Mardin (Ottoman Empire).

In 1883, the parish priest, noticing signs of religious orientation in the fourteen-year-old Maloyan, sent him to the Monastery of the Holy Mother of God in Bzummar, Lebanon.

In 1896, Maloyan completed his higher education, was ordained a priest at the Bzoummar Monastery, and joined the Bzummar Patriarchal Clergy Order, receiving the name Ignatius.

From 1897 to 1910, Father Ignatius served as a parish priest in Alexandria and Cairo.

On October 22, 1911, the Synod of Bishops convened in Rome elected him Archbishop of Mardin.

On October 7, 2001, His Holiness Pope John Paul II beatified Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan as a martyr in a solemn ceremony.

Pope Francis signed a document on the canonization of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan on March 28, 2025.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the Holy See.

Accompanied by the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Holy See Boris Sahakyan, the Prime Minister toured the embassy and got acquainted with the working conditions and activities of the embassy.

Current issues of cooperation between the embassy and the Holy See were discussed, as well as directions for the further development of relations between Armenia and the Holy See.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Italy.

Accompanied by Ambassador Vladimir Karapetyan, the Prime Minister toured the embassy and interacted with the staff.

Vladimir Karapetyan provided details on the activities of the embassy and the process of cooperation with the Italian Government.

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During his working visit to the Holy See (Vatican), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Armenian Catholicos-Patriarch of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, His Eminence and Beatitude Father Raphael Petros 21st Minasyan, and students of the college at the Levonian College attached to the St. Nicholas Armenian Catholic Church in Rome.

During the meeting, issues of Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy, current issues, the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, regional developments, as well as steps to overcome existing challenges were discussed in a question-and-answer format.

The parties also exchanged views on the work being carried out to spread and preserve Christian values, as well as other spiritual and social topics.

At the end of the meeting, the Catholicos-Patriarch of House of Cilicia of Armenian Catholic Church, His Holiness Raphael Petros 21st Minasyan, presented Prime Minister Pashinyan with a relic of St. Ignatius Maloyan, a ecclesiastical vestment, which is used during the Liturgy and is kept in the museum of the Bzommar Monastery (Lebanon). The Catholicos-Patriarch also presented the Prime Minister with a commemorative medal, made in memory of the canonization ceremony held in the Vatican on October 19.

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Within the framework of his visit to the Holy See, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

His Holiness welcomed Prime Minister Pashinyan’s visit to the Vatican and his participation in the canonization ceremony of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan and six other Blesseds. He emphasized the close relations established between the Holy See and Armenia, particularly emphasizing the role of the Mekhitarist Congregation of Venice in deepening these ties.

Prime Minister Pashinyan once again congratulated His Holiness on his election as the Bishop of Rome, wishing him strength and success on the difficult and responsible path of fulfilling his holy mission. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV, the tradition of close dialogue between the Holy See and Armenia will continue, as well as the consistent attention shown by the Holy See to issues important to Armenia.

During the meeting, regional issues were also touched upon. The interlocutors discussed the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as humanitarian issues. His Holiness congratulated the progress made in this direction and expressed hope that the establishment of peace in the region will be the beginning of a new phase of cooperation and stability.

Prime Minister Pashinyan reaffirmed the commitment of the Armenian Government to the peace agenda for the benefit of Armenia and the region’s prosperity and sustainable development.

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A meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Cardinal Secretary of State of the Holy See Pietro Parolin took place.

The interlocutors emphasized the high-level dialogue between the Armenian Government and the Holy See, expressing confidence that it will continuously develop and be further strengthened. The parties emphasized that the dialogue between Armenia and the Holy See is based not only on Christian values, but also on common historical and spiritual heritage and identical approaches to the challenges of the modern world.

The Holy See Secretary of State expressed confidence that with the enthronement of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, bilateral relations will further deepen and strengthen.

Prime Minister Pashinyan once again noted that it is an honor for him to participate in the canonization ceremony of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan, adding that his life reminds us that even in times of suffering, faith and courage can overcome difficulties.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and emphasized the importance of addressing humanitarian issues.

They also touched upon various issues on the bilateral agenda.