The Patriarch will also be making an official visit to Greece and an expected visit to Russia in the coming week as part of this broader effort to support Christian communities.
The day-long, faith-focused rally transformed the historic space into a venue for prayer and national reflection.
Dating back nearly two millennia, the Armenian Church’s presence in Jerusalem is widely considered the longest unbroken Christian presence in the Old City.
The new appointment, George Deek, had previously been Israel's ambassador to Azerbaijan. He was also, the Foreign Ministry noted, Israel's first Christian ambassador in history.
The Museum of the Bible hosts "America Reads the Bible," a weeklong event with 500 participants reading Scripture, featuring contributions from figures in politics, media, and entertainment.
The Pope will visit Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea on a tour that will cover 11 cities and towns, spanning nearly 18,000 km (11,185 miles) across 18 flights.
Jerusalem's Municipality had worked with the Tourism and Interior Ministries to prepare for the event, with Mayor Moshe Lion extending his blessing to the Jerusalem Christian community.
Israel's Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office announced that the police would be working on a security plan to enable the church leaders to worship at the holy site in upcoming days.
"This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war," Pope Leo, the first US pope, told crowds.
The former nurse took her seat on the 13th-century Chair of St Augustine at Canterbury Cathedral before 2,000 guests, including heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife Kate, and PM Starmer.
Dayan and the Pope discussed potential collaborations between the Vatican and Yad Vashem regarding Holocaust commemoration, documentation, and education.
