On June 11th, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I delivered a lecture on “Religion in the Geopolitics of the Middle East” at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in the Vatican.
The event was organized by the said Institute, Pontifical Gregorian University, and the Lebanese Embassy.
The lecture was attended by Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI, His Eminence Arch. Mesrob Sarkissian—Prelate of UAE and Qatar—university scholars, ambassadors, and Vatican department heads.
The event commenced with subsequent remarks from the president of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, the Lebanese Ambassador to the Vatican, and Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
His Holiness opened his lecture shedding light on the influence of religion on geopolitics throughout history. He emphasized the transformative nature of religion in response to evolving geopolitical conditions, particularly highlighting the pivotal role played by monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—in shaping political, cultural, and social landscapes across Europe and the Middle East.
Throughout his address, His Holiness delved into the dynamics of religion’s impact on Middle Eastern geopolitics. He addressed critical themes including the intersection of faith and reason, the complex relationship between religion and politics, and the imperative of fostering mutual trust and justice-based peace.
In his conclusion, His Holiness underscored the vital role of religion in promoting peaceful coexistence, resolving conflicts, and enhancing mutual trust within Middle Eastern societies. Proposing a meeting of religious leaders in Jerusalem, he called for a united effort to advocate for peace and reconciliation among the three major religions, drawing upon historical precedent and principles of justice.
