On 23-26 June, 2025, the 98^th General Assembly of ROACO (“Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches”) is being held in Rome, during which the present situation of the Eastern Catholic Churches and their problems, which need urgent solutions or financial assistance are being discussed. H.E. Kevork Noradounguian, the Ordinary Archbishop of Armenian Catholics of Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Eastern Europe, is also taking part.

On June 24, the Assembly sessions were opened with a solemn Holy Mass, presided over by H. E. Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, who is also ex officio presiding over ROACO. The Holy Mass was celebrated for the memory of the benefactors, both alive and deceased, who have always supported the Eastern Churches, as well as for peace, trusting the people, suffering from war, to the Lord.

After the Holy Mass, Cardinal Gugerotti had an introductory speech, after which Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzabala, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, introduced the present situation in the Holy Lands, Jerusalem and the adjacent sanctuaries, and in Gaza, to the participants of the sessions. After that, a report on the worldwide donations of 2024 for the annual fundraising “Pro Terra Sancta”, was presented to the participants.

In the afternoon, H.E. Archbishop Ante Yozic, Papal Nuncio in Armenia and Georgia, and H.E. Kevork Noradounguian, the Ordinary Archbishop of Armenian Catholics of Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Eastern Europe introduced reports about the situation in the Armenian Catholic communities.

H.E. Noradounguian related an overview of the history of the Armenian Catholics living on the huge territory under his jurisdiction: starting with the persecutions of the communist period, the exile of the priests, the re-establishment of the Ordinariate in 1992, till nowadays, the efforts for the observance of the faith in the communities, the process of the spiritual revival, present challenges, achievements and problems, deep reforms, which have commenced with his appointment, in the directions of priestly service, Evangelization and the financial-economic system of the Ordinariate.

The Assembly will conclude on 26 June with a meeting of the participants with His Holiness Leo XIV.

Secretariat of the Ordinariate

24 June, 2025.