Pope Francis invites Georgian Patriarch to Vatican in 2020
Pope Francis and Ilia II met in Tbilisi in 2016 when the former publicly addressed the Georgian people, speaking of Georgia’s long history and ties with the Catholic Church. Photo: patriarchate.ge
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Pope Francis invited Georgian Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II to the Vatican next year to commemorate the 40-year anniversary since the latter’s “historic visit” in 1980.
In the letter which was published earlier today, Pope Francis recalled his visit to Georgia back in 2016, saying he wishes to meet with Ilia II again next year.
Dear brother, our meeting could inspire many people who would be interested in the spiritual wealth of Georgia, Georgian art, culture and civilization which the country created throughout its centuries-long history with strong faith that is confirmed with Christian courage at times of many misfortunes”, Pope Francis said.
He said a lot of events will be dedicated to the Georgian Patriarch’s visit to Vatican in 2020, including high-level musical projects.
The Pope invited the chorus of the Georgian patriarchy to perform for a wide audience as well.
From left: Ilia II greets Pope Francis at Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport in 2016. Photo: President of Georgia's press office/Archive
Pope Francis also wrote that it would be excellent if "His Holiness [referring to Ilia II], whose thrilling spiritual pieces of music deserve recognition and respect, would attend these events”.
In conclusion, the Pope wished Ilia II good health, strength and inner peace and asked the latter to pray for him as well.
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Pope Francis met the leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II in capital Tbilisi yesterday on the first day of his visit to Georgia.
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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.
Cardinal Secretary of State of the Holy See (Vatican) Pietro Parolin is paying a three-day visit to Georgia. During the meeting with Parolin yesterday, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said Georgia is committed to deepenening cooperation with Vatican.
Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II turned 87 today. He has been leading the spiritual life of the Orthodox Georgian parish for 42 years now.
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Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II turned 88 today. He has been leading the spiritual life of the Orthodox Georgian parish for 43 years now.
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 President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday joined messages of congratulation to Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, on his 90th birthday by wishing him “many more years” at the helm of the religious organisation.