A private meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Aram I at the Vatican has drawn attention after the Armenian Apostolic Church revealed that the topic of a possible “Third Vatican Council” was discussed during their May 18 audience.
According to a statement published by the Armenian Apostolic Church’s Holy See of Cilicia, Aram I raised several major ecumenical issues during the meeting, including “the establishment of a unified date for Easter, the designation of a commemorative day for all martyrs, and the convening of a Third Vatican Council.”
The Vatican confirmed that the two leaders met privately, exchanged gifts and speeches, and later joined together in prayer in the Urban VIII Chapel of the Apostolic Palace. However, the Vatican’s official summary did not specifically mention the proposal for a Third Vatican Council.
According to the Armenian statement, Pope Leo XIV “expressed his understanding and support” regarding the issues raised, while also offering “the necessary clarifications from his perspective.”
During the meeting, Pope Leo reportedly emphasized the importance of continued theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. He also praised Aram I for his long involvement in ecumenical work through organizations such as the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches.
The discussion comes amid ongoing efforts by the Vatican to strengthen relations with Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox communities. According to the source material, recent ecumenical tensions have included reactions to the Vatican declaration Fiducia Supplicans, which authorized non-liturgical blessings for couples in “irregular unions,” including same-sex couples.
LifeSiteNews noted that Pope Leo XIV recently held a phone conversation with Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church and previously sent a letter encouraging renewed theological dialogue between Rome and the Copts.
In remarks delivered during the May 18 meeting, Pope Leo acknowledged that ecumenical dialogue has faced “recent difficulties,” but stressed that “there can be no restoration of communion between our Churches without unity in faith.”
The article also highlighted concerns raised by some Catholics regarding modern ecumenical efforts and the idea of a shared Easter date between Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Supporters argue that a common Easter celebration could strengthen Christian witness and improve relations between Churches. Pope Leo himself reportedly stated that what unites Catholics and Orthodox Christians is “stronger, quantitatively and qualitatively, than what divides.”
At the same time, the report emphasized longstanding theological divisions between the Catholic Church and separated Churches, including disagreements over papal primacy and doctrinal authority. The article noted that the First Council of Nicaea established a common Easter calculation within a Church already united in faith, rather than as a compromise between separated Christian communities.
The Armenian Apostolic Church traces its origins to the early centuries of Christianity and is traditionally recognized as the first kingdom to adopt Christianity as a state religion. However, it separated from Rome after rejecting the Council of Chalcedon in 451.
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