In Memoriam His Holiness Ilia

The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity has learned with profound sadness of the passing of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, which occurred on 17 March 2026.

In this circumstance, the Holy Father sent a message to His Eminence Shio (Mujiri), Metropolitan of Senaki and Chkhorotsku and Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne.

In his message, Pope Leo XIV expresses his heartfelt condolences and his closeness to the Holy Synod and the entire Georgian Orthodox Church. The Holy Father describes Patriarch Ilia II as a “devout witness to the faith in the Risen Christ”, whose ministry has accompanied the Georgian people through times of hardship and profound change. The papal message also recalls the historic encounters between the Patriarch and his predecessors, Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis.

a letter of condolence was also sent by Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

The Cardinal led the delegation of the Holy See to the funeral of the late Patriarch, which was held in Tbilisi on 22 March and presided over by His Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch. The delegation also included Archbishop Ante Jozić, Apostolic Nuncio to Georgia, Mgr Aliaksandr Rahinia, Counsellor of the Nunciature, and the Revd Jaromír Zadrapa, Official of the DPUC.

Requiescat in pace