Patriarch John X Yazigi, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, is scheduled to visit the Vatican, where he will meet Pope Leo XIV and several senior Vatican officials.
During his visit to Rome, Patriarch John X is also scheduled to meet with Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches. His program will also include a meeting with representatives of the Community of Sant’Egidio.
The visit comes within the framework of the longstanding and well-established relationship between Antioch and Rome. It is expected to provide a new opportunity for dialogue on Christian concerns and the major challenges facing the Middle East.
Relations between the Vatican and the Patriarchate of Antioch have continued to develop through open dialogue, reciprocal visits, and regular contacts addressing the Christian presence and the future of the peoples of the region.
Since his election as Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Patriarch JOHN X has continued to foster cordial and constructive relations with the Vatican. His meetings with Pope FRANCIS contributed to strengthening ties between the two Churches, particularly amid the political, humanitarian, and social crises that have affected the Middle East over the past decade. This relationship has continued under Pope Leo XIV. During the Pope’s visit to Lebanon in December 2025, Patriarch John X emphasized the historic and apostolic bond linking Antioch and Rome. Welcoming the Pope, he said: “The Church of Antioch… embraces, through your gracious presence, the Church of Rome.” The Patriarch also recalled that Antioch was the city where the disciples were first called “Christians” and that its Church had been associated with the Apostle Peter since its beginnings, thereby underscoring the deep historical roots that unite these two ancient Apostolic Sees.
Both sides have repeatedly called for peace and reconciliation, respect for human dignity, and the protection of communities affected by conflict, displacement, and economic crises. The abduction in 2013 of the two Metropolitans of Aleppo, Metropolitan Paul Yazigi and Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim, remains a painful wound for the Patriarchate of Antioch, and the issue has repeatedly been raised in ecclesiastical and diplomatic circles.
Relations between Antioch and Rome are not limited to formal encounters. They also encompass reciprocal visits, ongoing ecclesiastical contacts, dialogue on Christian unity, and a shared concern for humanitarian crises and the stability of the region.
At a time when the region continues to face unrest and ongoing conflicts, this visit carries a broader message: that Antioch and Rome are capable of deepening their dialogue and strengthening their common witness in the service of peace, human dignity, coexistence, and the future of the peoples of the Middle East.
