Pope Leo XIV: throughout his long life, Patriarch Ilia II was devoted witness to faith in the Risen Christ

Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow over the passing of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, praising his lifelong service to the Georgian people and his role as a spiritual leader during times of hardship and transformation.

In a letter addressed to Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal See, and the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Pope conveyed his solidarity and prayers following the death of Ilia II.

“It is with deep sadness that I learnt of the death of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. In sending my heartfelt condolences I assure Your Eminence, the Holy Synod, and the entire Orthodox Church of Georgia of my fraternal solidarity in your grief. At this delicate moment for your people, I join you in prayer and in your grateful remembrance of the Shepherd and Father who guided you with kindness, wisdom and evangelical strength for so many years”, he said.

He emphasised the Patriarch’s role in preserving traditions while also inspiring hope across the country.

“Throughout his long life, Patriarch Ilia II was a devoted witness to faith in the Risen Christ. His ministry accompanied the Georgian people through difficult times and profound epochal change, lovingly preserving tradition and opening hearts and communities to hope. I would also recall his deep passion for music, which is a stimulus to the search for the beauty of God and can unite peoples, bringing Churches closer together beyond cultural and theological differences”, the letter said.

Pope Leo XIV also pointed to Ilia II’s contribution to interfaith and inter-church dialogue, recalling his meetings with previous Popes and his efforts to strengthen unity among Christian communities.

“For many, he was a spiritual father, a voice of reconciliation and a tireless builder of unity. He met with two of my esteemed predecessors Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis always in a spirit of cordiality and fraternity. As you entrust this faithful servant to the Lord, the words of the Apostle Paul resound powerfully, reminding us that the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith and the source of our hope. For if Christ has not been raised, then our faith is in vain (cf. 1 Cor 15:14)”, he noted.

He concluded by expressing support for the Georgian Orthodox Church during this transitional period and offered prayers for guidance and strength for Metropolitan Shio as he assumed his responsibilities.

“Faced with the death of a Shepherd, therefore, our hearts do not yield to despair. Instead, they are opened to the certainty that life is not taken away but transformed. With these sentiments, I express to Your Eminence my fraternal closeness as you bear the weight of the ministry of Locum Tenens. I pray that the Lord will grant you light, discernment and fortitude, so that you may accompany the Orthodox Church of Georgia with that same pastoral charity which animated the late Patriarch. I ask the Most Holy Mother of God to protect Your Eminence, the Holy Synod, and the entire Georgian people with her mantle of consolation and love”, Pope Leo XIV concluded.