PRESIDENT OF LEBANON, FIRST LADY ARRIVE IN ROME; PATRIARCH MINASSIAN AWARDS HIM “CROSS OF FAITH”

Rome (National News Agency) — President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, and First Lady, Mrs. Nemat Aoun, arrived in Rome this afternoon, heading directly from the airport to the Armenian Pontifical School where they were received by Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian and a number of bishops and priests.

Upon their visit, a short sermon was held at the School’s church after which they proceeded to the School’s hall, where a meeting was held with Patriarch Minassian, the attending bishops, priests, and several members of the Armenian Catholic community who came from around the world to partake in the celebratory Mass that will be held tomorrow at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City to declare the sainthood of Blessed Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan.

At the start of the meeting, Patriarch Minassian welcomed President Aoun and the First Lady and thanked them for accepting his invitation to participate in the canonization of the blessed martyr. He said: “Although this Armenian Church is small, it has a long history in our homeland, Lebanon, and the Church remains as firm as the cedars. Today, history stands at an important moment where history meets patriotism and loyalty meets sacrifice.”

He added, “Your presence, Mr. President, with the First Lady, is not merely an official participation in a church celebration. It is a clear testimony that Lebanon remains a land of faith, and that its roots are stronger than the storms that have ravaged it. Lebanon, a land of civilization, is still thriving, and you, at its helm, are the only Christian president in the Middle East. We are proud of this reality, as you lead this journey between a glorious past and a bright present filled with hope for a future of success, security, and peace for all the people of this beloved homeland.”

“In a time of much talk and little action, your step today, Your Excellency the President, is an act of hope planted in our hearts, restoring to us the image of Lebanon, the message. Therefore, we wish to appreciate these noble qualities at the personal level first, and then as a leader and president of Lebanon, and to award you the “Cross of Faith,” which is the highest order in our Armenian Catholic Patriarchate,” Minassian said.

In turn, President Aoun thanked Patriarch Minassian for his initiative, expressing his joy at being in Rome today alongside the faithful who came from various countries to participate in the canonization of Bishop Malonian.

In a word of tribute to the late Bishop, President Aoun said he was “a saint for all humanity,” who “believed in a cause and gave the most precious thing he had, his life, for it.”

He continued, “Our ancestors dug into the rock with their hands and built monasteries because they had faith in a cause. They spread religion, faith, and education, and I hope that you, that is, the clergy of all sects, will not abandon the message of education and will not let generations grow up without education, because it is the foundation for building nations, especially building Lebanon.”

At the end of the visit and upon leaving the church, President Aoun responded to newsmen’s questions whether Lebanon was preparing to receive His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, saying, “Of course, we are awaiting His Holiness the Pope in Lebanon and are making all arrangements for this visit.”