His Holiness the Catholicos visited Vienna on 3rd September 2013 as the special invitee of Pro-Oriente. Pro-Oriente is the fellowship of all the Churches which use Syriac as the sacramental language. From the very inception of the organization, Malankara Orthodox Church has played a decisive role to this day in Pro Oriente.

Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, the Arch Bishop of Vienna received His Holiness the Catholicos. An ecumenical meeting was organized at his official residence in honour of the Catholicos. Franz Scharl, the Auxiliary Bishop of Vienna and the office bearers of Pro-Oriente attended the meeting. The meeting discussed many important measures to strengthen the relationship among Syrian Churches and to foster co-operations among them.