Vatican city: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, and First Lady Nehmat Aoun, participated Sunday in the solemn Mass during which Blessed Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan of the Armenian Catholic Church was declared a saint of the Catholic altars.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV presided over the Mass, which was held this morning at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City, in the presence of several presidents and officials from various countries, in addition to cardinals and patriarchs, including Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi and Catholicos of the Armenian House of Cilicia, Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian.
During the Mass, Pope Leo also announced the canonization of six other blesseds, saying, “Today, seven holy witnesses stand before us, men and women, who, by the grace of God, left the lamp of faith burning and became lamps shining with the light of Christ in the world.”
He added: “The Lord speaks to his disciples about the necessity of constant prayer without getting tired. Just as we never get tired of breathing, we will never get tired of praying. Just as breathing supports the body, so too prayer supports the soul.”
At the end of the Mass, the Pope commended President Aoun for his participation, as well as Italian President Sergio Mattarella and the official delegation that had come from Armenia. He also expressed his hope for peace in the world and an end to violence and suffering.
Before the Mass, the Pope had received President Aoun and the First Lady, where the President affirmed that Lebanon and all the Lebanese are eagerly awaiting His Holiness’s visit at the end of next month. He added that all arrangements have been made to ensure its success, thanking the Pope for accepting the visit invitation.
In turn, the Holy See responded by confirming that he intended this visit as one of “peace and hope.”
It is to note that President Aoun also met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the ceremony site.