His Holiness Pope Tawadros II visited this morning the headquarters of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople in the Kumkapı district of Istanbul, as part of his current visit to Turkey, which began two days ago.

Upon arrival, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the accompanying delegation were received by His Beatitude Patriarch Sahak II Mashalian, Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, together with a number of metropolitans and bishops of the Armenian Church.

Their Holinesses and their accompanying delegations then proceeded to the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary (Surp Asdvadzadzin), where a prayer of thanksgiving was offered. The procession then moved to the Patriarchal headquarters for the official meeting.

During the meeting, His Beatitude Patriarch Sahak warmly welcomed His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the accompanying delegation, expressing his joy at this visit. His Holiness Pope Tawadros II also delivered an address of love and gratitude.

At the conclusion of the meeting, commemorative gifts were exchanged and official photographs were taken.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II began his first visit to Turkey since his enthronement two days ago. During the visit, he met His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, in the first official meeting between the Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of Constantinople since His Holiness Pope Tawadros II was enthroned on the See of Saint Mark.

His Holiness also attended the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy yesterday morning, met members of the Synodal Committee for Dialogue among Christians and Religions, attended a luncheon held in his honor at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, met his children at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, and concluded by visiting the Egyptian Consulate in Istanbul.