Pope Francis thanks Georgia for warm welcome
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Pope Francis has this morning concluded his two-day visit to Georgia before making his way to Azerbaijan - the last stop on his journey to the Caucasus.
The Pope departed from Georgia’s Tbilisi International Airport about 8am local time following a departure ceremony that wrapped up his two-day visit to Georgia.
Pope Francis departs Tbilisi earlier today. Photo by the Georgian President's press office.
The farewell ceremony was attended by Georgia’s Presidential couple Giorgi Margvelashvili and Maka Chichua, Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze and other high officials.
Pope Francis and Georgia's President Giorgi Margvelashvili today. Photo by the Georgian President's press office.
Pope Francis' final engagement on Saturday in Georgia was a visit to the Svetitskhoveli Patriarchal Cathedral in the ancient capital of Mtskheta, the seat of the Orthodox Church of Georgia.
The Pope was accompanied by Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II and Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
Pope Francis and Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili in Mtskheta. Photo by the Prime Minister's press office.
The history of Georgia is like an ancient book that, with each page, relates holy testimonies and Christian values which have forged the soul and culture of the country,” said the Pope in his address at Svetitskhovelui.
This esteemed book, no less so, speaks to us of deeds of great openness, welcome and integration. These are most precious and enduring values, both for this land and the entire region.”
Pope Francis called Svetitskhoveli a "magnificent Cathedral” that housed "so many treasures of faith and history” and said it "invites us to remember the past”.
This is more necessary than ever, as "a people’s fall begins where its memory of the past ends,” he added.
Pope Francis and Georgia's Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II in Mtskheta. Photo by the Prime Minister's press office.
The Pope expressed his "heartfelt gratitude” for the warm welcome he received in Georgia.
"The Georgian language is rich in meaningful expressions which describe fraternity, friendship and closeness among people,” he said.
There is one expression, both noble and genuine, which evokes a readiness to exchange places with another, the will to bear their burden, the desire to say wholeheartedly, "I wish to be in your place” (shen genatsvale).”
Sharing the joys and sorrows in the communion of prayer and in the union of souls, and carrying each other’s burdens; may this fraternal attitude mark the way ahead for our journey together.”
Pope Francis, who is on his first visit to Georgia, has met Catholic charity workers in the Georgian capital Tbilisi and encouraged them in their work.
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Pope Francis – the head of the Roman Catholic Church – has marked the beginning of his second day in Georgia by leading a Mass at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Georgia's capital Tbilisi.
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Pope Francis, who is on his first visit to Georgia, has publicly addressed the Georgian people from the Presidential palace in capital Tbilisi with the country’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili.
Pope Francis – the head of the Roman Catholic Church – has arrived in Georgia. Several minutes ago the religious leader was welcomed at Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport by President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili and Georgia’s Catholics Patriarch Ilia II.
Pope Francis says that Georgia has inspired him greatly and he will always remember his visit to the country with great fondness. Today Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelahsvili hosted the Ambassador of the Holy See to Georgia, Monsignor Marek Solczynski.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who is on an official visit to Vatican, has met with Pope Francis today. During the meeting they discussed a number of issues including the importance of global solidarity during the Covid-19 pandemic, the grave humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), as well as Georgia’s role of a mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan to promote peace and stability in the region.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday held a farewell meeting with José Avelino Bettencourt, the Ambassador of the Holy See to Georgia, after the latter completed his diplomatic term in the country.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili will feature at the unveiling of a mosaic mural of the Holy Virgin of Iveria in the Vatican on Tuesday to mark a “new milestone” in bilateral ties, the Georgian foreign office said on Monday.
Georgia has been “given a unique opportunity” to present its ancient culture among the world masterpieces in the Vatican - “a space carrying cultural values of world importance”, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said on Tuesday at the inaugural ceremony of unveiling a Georgian mosaic mural of Our Lady of Iviron in the Holy See in the Vatican city.