On October 19–20, Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, attended the canonization ceremony of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan at the Vatican, met with Pope Leo XIV, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and Armenian Catholic Church leaders, and discussed Armenia–Holy See relations, the peace process with Azerbaijan, and regional developments.

On October 19, Pashinyan attended the canonization ceremony of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan and six other blesseds in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, presided over by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. During the ceremony, Pope Leo XIV welcomed the attending leaders, including Prime Minister Pashinyan and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and delivered his blessing to all present, while an Armenian prayer honored Archbishop Maloyan. Pashinyan also had a brief meeting with President Mattarella and participated in a dinner hosted by His Holiness Raphael Petros 21st, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, which was attended by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

During his visit, Pashinyan toured the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the Holy See with Ambassador Boris Sahakyan, discussing current cooperation and avenues to further develop Armenia–Holy See relations. He also visited the Armenian Embassy in Italy with Ambassador Vladimir Karapetyan, receiving a briefing on the embassy’s operations and collaboration with the Italian government. Pashinyan met with His Eminence and Beatitude Raphael Petros 21st Minasyan, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, and students at the Levonian College attached to St. Nicholas Armenian Catholic Church in Rome. Discussions covered Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy, the peace process with Azerbaijan, regional developments, and efforts to preserve Christian values. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Catholicos-Patriarch presented Pashinyan with a relic of St. Ignatius Maloyan and a commemorative medal marking the canonization ceremony.

On October 20, Prime Minister Pashinyan met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, during which the Pope welcomed Armenia’s participation in the canonization ceremony and highlighted the longstanding ties between the Holy See and Armenia, including the role of the Mekhitarist Congregation of Venice. The discussion also addressed regional issues, the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and humanitarian concerns. Pashinyan reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to advancing peace for the benefit of both the country and regional stability.