On September 11, 2023, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the Catholicos of the East and Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, will pay a visit to Pope Francis.

The official announcement comes from the Vatican Press Office. “This will mark the first official meeting in the Vatican for the Catholicos, who was elected in 2021, on the tenth anniversary of his predecessor, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II’s visit, as well as the fortieth anniversary of the first visit to Rome by a Catholicos of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church,” the statement reports.

“After a private meeting with the Holy Father, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III will visit the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity. On Sunday, September 10, the Catholicos will celebrate a Eucharistic Liturgy at the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls for the members of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox community residing in Rome,” the statement concludes.