A procession carrying the mortal remains of the former Armenian Catholic Patriarch was held on Sept. 12, 2024, from Martyrs' Square to the Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Saint Elias Cathedral of the Armenian Catholics in Beirut. (Credit: Nabil Ismail)
The plane carrying the remains of former Armenian Catholic Patriarch Grégoire-Pierre XV Agagianian, once considered the only "papabile" from the Eastern Church, landed Thursday afternoon at Beirut's international airport, where an official reception was held.
The body of the religious dignitary, who died more than 50 years ago and had rested at the Armenian Church of St. Nicholas of Tolentino in Rome, was then transported to Martyrs' Square at the invitation of Patriarch Raphaël Bedros (Pierre) XXI. A procession followed, leading to the Cathedral of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and the Prophet Saint Elijah of the Armenian Catholics in Beirut. The transparent coffin carrying the body was borne by representatives of all the religious sects recognized in the Lebanese Constitution. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati was in attendance.
"Caring for the needy, the poor, the sick, and the homeless, Cardinal Agagianian, a humble patriarch full of love for humanity, founded schools, associations, and orphanages," said Mikati. "He loved Lebanon as a son loves his family, and the Lebanese as a father loves his children. Today, he returns to his land and people, more than half a century after his death, refusing to let death separate him from his homeland, where he now rests in peace."
The prime minister added that "all Lebanese hope that with the arrival of Patriarch Agagianian's remains, white smoke will rise from this region, signaling the election of a new president of the Republic."
بعد ٥٣ سنة…
— Richard Kouyoumjian (@RKouyoumjian) September 12, 2024
رائحة القداسة تفوح من جسده المقدس
في استقبال جثمان الكاردينال البطريرك كريكور بيدروس الخامس عشر أغاجانيان عند وصوله إلى مطار بيروت pic.twitter.com/ft5R6UXTxr
Polyglot
Patriarch Grégoire-Pierre XV Agagianian was born on Sept. 18, 1895, in the Russian Empire, in what is now Georgia.
On July 11, 1935, Pope Pius XI appointed this polyglot — fluent in Armenian, Italian, French, English, Georgian, Russian, Latin, and Greek — as apostolic nuncio to Lebanon. On Nov. 30, 1937, he was elected to the patriarchal seat of Bzoummar (Mount Lebanon), becoming head of the Armenian Catholic Church. Under his leadership, the church regained prominence within the Armenian diaspora after the 1915 Armenian genocide.
Pope Pius XII elevated him to cardinal in 1946, and during the 1958 and 1963 conclaves, his stature made him the first "papabile" from an Eastern Church. However, rumors of his alleged closeness to the Soviet Union hindered his chances of election.
On Oct. 19, 1970, Patriarch Agagianian resigned and retired to the Pontifical Armenian College in Rome. He passed away on May 16, 1971, at the age of 75 after a short illness.