His Holiness Catholicos Aram I In a Public Lecture at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome: “The Churches of the Middle East are Wavering between Uncertainty, Despair, and Hope”
On May 19, 2026, in a public lecture at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), observed, “Christian communities in the Middle East are increasingly becoming shrinking minorities. An objective assessment of the current situation clearly indicates that the very future of Christianity is at stake in its birthplace.”
He challenged the deep-seated conviction held by some Western circles that Christians are universally persecuted in the Middle East. However, he acknowledged that in certain countries, Christians sometimes face various forms of discrimination, often related to the surge of Muslim fundamentalism.
Addressing the issue of citizenship, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I emphasized that Christians aspire to see the values of equal citizenship continuously strengthened in practice, so that all citizens—regardless of religious affiliation—may fully enjoy the same rights, responsibilities, opportunities, and sense of belonging within their societies. He continued, “While many states in the region draw inspiration from Islamic traditions and values, they also possess civic and constitutional frameworks that can ensure inclusivity and equal participation. Within this context, constructive arrangements can be developed to safeguard the religious, educational, cultural, and legal distinctiveness of Christian communities, while also strengthening national unity and social cohesion.”
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I described the migration of Christians as “an existential crisis,” noting that every crisis—whether economic, security-related, or political—has led to significant waves of Christian migration and, consequently, a sharp decline in the Christian presence.
For His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, developing “a common strategy” with “a common vision” for Christianity in the Middle East is a must. Within this perspective, he identified seven areas of reflection and action:
Strong attachment to the homeland
Rebuilding community life
Fostering interaction between religious and national identities
Overcoming the minority-majority complex
Moving beyond dialogue to engagement
Transitioning from being observers to becoming active participants
Shifting from self-protective concern to proactive involvement
He emphasized that a common celebration of Easter is an urgent necessity to give visible expression to Christian unity. Furthermore, he highlighted education and diakonia as two vital dimensions of the church’s missionary engagement…
This news was originally published on the website of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, Antelias - Lebanon. Please click here to read the full text.