Pope Francis’ Secretary of State visits Georgia
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, December 30
Pope Francis’ Secretary of State, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, visited Georgia on December 27, 2019. During his visit, Parolin met with the Georgian Authorities to discuss questions concerning bilateral relations as well as national and regional concerns.
The Holy See was among the first States and international bodies to recognize Georgian sovereignty and to open a permanent Apostolic Nunciature (embassy) in Tbilisi.
Cardinal Parolin comes to celebrate, in particular, 25 years since the construction of the Apostolic Administration for the Latins in the South Caucasus, 30 years since the arrival of the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta in Georgia, 25 years since the establishment of Caritas Georgia and 25 years since the arrival of the Stigmatine Fathers in Georgia.
Other significant anniversaries that were recalled are the following: 40 years since the historic visit of the Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II to the Vatican; 20 years since the historic visit of Pope Saint John Paul II to Tbilisi; 25 years since the establishment of Jean Vanier’s L’Arch (Faith and Light) community for physically challenged people and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Mar Shimmon Bar Sabbae Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church in Tbilisi.
The Cardinal Secretary of State visited various institutions of the Catholic Church and met the representatives of its three Rites present in the country: Armenian, Assyrian Chaldean and Latin.
The meetings with the Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and other Orthodox Hierarchs were also held as an expression of the fraternal ties between the Catholic Church and the Georgian Orthodox Church.
During his stay, the Secretary of State visited the ABL Line with the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili. They visited Gugutiantkari, where barriers had recently been built. Tsikhelashvili informed the guest about the situation on the ground and the needs of those living near the occupation line.
Minister also talked about the situation in Akhalgori, where the so-called checkpoint has been illegally closed since September 4, creating a full humanitarian crisis in the region.
During the visit, Secretary of State also met with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Archil Talakvadze. At the meeting, they discussed the friendly and successful relations between Georgia and the Holy See and stressed the importance of high-level exchange visits.
Discussions focused on Georgia's foreign policy priorities and challenges facing the country. Archil Talakvadze also drew attention to the situation in the occupied regions of Georgia and said that the occupation threatens the Christian heritage in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
On December 28, an Official Reception was hosted by His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Pope Francis Secretary of State at the Tbilisi City Assembly, at Freedom Square.
During his two-day visit, the Secretary of State held many high-profile meetings. He met with Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church to present greetings from Pope Francis and express the fraternal esteem existing between the Catholic Church and the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Cardinal Parolin was the Undersecretary for the Holy See’s Relations with States during the 2008 conflict when the Pope and the Holy See spoke on various occasions in international forums in favour of peace for Georgia, as well as in support of its territorial integrity.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State was ordained a priest on 27 April 1980.
In 1983 he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy (Vatican Academy of Diplomacy) and entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1986, subsequently serving in Nigeria and Mexico.
Particularly expert in matters concerning the Middle East, and more generally in those regarding the geopolitical situation of the Asian continent, he has worked specifically to build up and reinforce relations between the Holy See and Vietnam.
He also contributed to reopening dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, convinced of the need for a shared effort to ‘create the conditions for a true and just peace’ in the Middle East.
