On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 20th Anniversary of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches a public Academic Act took place on Tuesday, January 23 at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas “Angelicum” in Rome.

During the Academic Act Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Bishop Kyrillos, Auxiliary Bishop in the Coptic Orthodox Church, Cardinal Walter Kasper, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See and Father France Bouwen, Firmer Director of the Journal Proche-Orient made presentation on the journey of 20 years of dialogue.

At the conclusion of the Academic Act, Cardinal Koch, on behalf of His Holiness Pope Francis presented the Benemerenti medal of honor to Archbishop Khajag Barsamian for his many years of committed work for Christian Unity and specifically his affords deepening the relationship between the Armenian Church and the Catholic Church.