Faithful react to Pope Leo's visit to Armenian cathedral in Istanbul amid Turkish-Armenian reconcili

Описание: (28 Nov 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Yerevan, Armenia – 23 November 2025
1. Various of exteriors of the Katoghike Holy Mother of God Church
2. Various of Mass inside the church
3. SOUNDBITE (Armenian) Armen Arshakyan, Yerevan resident:
“The Pope’s visit to the Armenian Church in Istanbul doesn’t fundamentally change Turkey’s attitude, but it highlights the fact that there is an Armenian nation that was the first in the world to adopt Christianity. I see only positivity in this. It honors us and reminds the world about Armenians, who are currently in a rather difficult situation.”
4. Various of people attending Mass
5. SOUNDBITE (Armenian) Maria Petrosyan, Yerevan resident:
“The Pope’s visit to the Armenian Church in Istanbul, as it is, cannot be of great global importance, but maintaining contact with different churches is, for me, something positive. However, I would not expect major positive changes.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beirut, Lebanon - 23 November 2025
6. Tilt down on the Armenian Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, a suburb of Beirut
7. Mid of a boy striking the Cathedral bell
8. Cathedral bell striking
9. Various of Armenian priests and the Catholicos-Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia entering the church for the Sunday mass
10. Various of Archimandrite Fr. Barouyr Shernezian, Dean of the Armenian Theological Seminary of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia standing in the Cathedral
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Archimandrite Barouyr Shernezian, Dean of the Armenian Theological Seminary of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia:
“The Middle East is the birth of Christianity, so it needs peace. We need reconciliation between communities, so we may live together in our diversity, but also in harmonious love. So the visit of His Holiness, I believe , it would be very big impact on us. So we as Christian communities to see the importance of coming together.”
12. Various of the Sunday mass in Armenian Catholic Cathedral of St. Elias
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Archimandrite Barouyr Shernezian, Dean of the Armenian Theological Seminary of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia:
“The Nicene Council is the good testimony to show that Christianity also developed on the soil of Turkey. So the visit of Pope will give the hope and also the importance, the message, not only to Turkey but also to the world that this is not a soil that only belongs to Turkey but also to many ancient Christian denominations, Christian churches, including the Armenian Church, which has a long history. It is our homeland. It is our birthplace.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Istambul, Turkey – 21 November 2025
13. Various exteriors of The Virgin Mary Armenian Church
STORYLINE:
Pope Leo XIV is set to pray at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Istanbul on Sunday in a gesture of support to Christian unity and to Christian minorities in Turkey.

But beyond its ecumenical symbolism, the visit may also signal a quiet support of ongoing efforts to heal century-old wounds between Turkey and Armenia, long scarred by mass killings and decades of mistrust, observers note.

An estimated 1.5 million Armenians died in massacres, deportations and forced marches that began in 1915 in Ottoman Turkey. Historians widely view the event as genocide.

Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest. It has lobbied to prevent countries from officially recognizing the massacres as genocide.
















Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...