At the invitation of the President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili and Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, on September 30, 2016, the Pope arrived in Georgia. The Armenian Diocese in Georgia brought its participation in the events on the occasion of the Pontiff’s two-day visit to Georgia.

Pope Francis met the President Giorgi Margvelashvili, the representatives of the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches at the Presidential Palace. The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, being invited to the events on this occasion, was in attendance of the meeting. The Diocesan Primate also attended a reception in honor of Pope Francis, organized by Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II at the Patriarchate of Georgia.

The faithful of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, led by the Diocesan Primate, participated in a liturgy celebrated by Pope Francis at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium. Following the service, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan transmitted to Pope Francis the fraternal greetings from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The Primate was accompanied by Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, assistant to the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia; and Michael Avagyan, Head of Legal Affairs and Cooperation Department; during the events.

The Armenian Diocese in Georgia brought its assistance during the welcome ceremony for Pope Francis; the choirs of the Cathedral of Saint George and the Saint Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, as well as the activists from the Youth Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia have also been involved.