Pope Leo XIV sent a letter to Archbishop Sahak II Mashalian, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul) of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and thanked him for the warm welcome he received at the Armenian Holy Mother of God Patriarchal Church during his visit to Istanbul.

“Such moments only serve to strengthen and deepen the fraternal bonds between our two Churches,” the letter, publicized by the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, states in particular.

Also, the Pope noted that he looks forward to “future encounters” with the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.