Pope pays tribute to late Armenian Catholic Patriarch Ghabroyan

PanARMENIAN.Net - In his condolence message sent on Saturday, May 29, Pope Francis praised the pastoral witness and outreach of Patriarch Gregoire Pierre XX Ghabroyan, who headed the Armenian Patriarchate of Cilicia based in Beirut, Lebanon, who died on Tuesday at the age of 86, Vatican News reports.

The message in French came through Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, his personal representative at the Patriarch’s funeral held in the Armenian Catholic Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator-St. Elias in Beirut, where he read the Pope’s message.

The Pope praised the pastoral sensitivity of Patriarch Ghabroyan with his tireless outreach and care for serving the most destitute Armenian communities suffering from the war and poverty, especially in Syria and Lebanon.

The Pope also recalled their meetings together, especially in the summer of 2015 when he was elected Patriarch and asked the Pope for a special blessing in order to lead the Patariarchal Church despite his advanced age.

Pope Francis also recalled other meetings with Patriarch Ghabroyan in Rome, during his Apostolic Journey to Armenia in 2016, as well as in 2018 with the inauguration of the statue of Saint Gregory of Narek in the Vatican gardens.

The Pope recalled fondly all these occasions, which offered opportunities to be express his closeness with the "beloved Armenian people who have suffered so much in the course of their history but who have always remained faithful to the profession of faith in Christ the Savior."

He commended the Patriarch's soul to the mercy of God and for the intercessory prayer of Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, and of Saint Gregory of Narek, together with all the Armenian martyrs and saints.