Apostolic visitation
“Pax vobis”, may peace be with you: it’s the chosen motto of Pope Francis’ visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan from September 30 to October 2. It’s the second leg of his pilgrimage to the Caucasus, which brought him to Armenia in June. Monsignor Giuseppe Pasotto, bishop of Tblisi, Apostolic Administrator for the Caucasus of Latin Rite, said: “The Catholics of Georgia see in the Pope’s visit an embrace of the universal Church to this land where sometimes we are under the impression that we are alone.”
Pope Francis in Georgia, “pilgrim of communion” among the Churches and of “peace” in the region of the Caucasus. Monsignor Giuseppe Pasotto, bishop of Tblisi, Apostolic Administrator of Catholics of Latin rite thus summarised the visitation of Pope Francis to Georgia and Azerbaijan from September 30 to October 2, the second leg of a pilgrimage that saw him in Armenia past June.
“Pax vobis”, may peace be with you: these two words taken from chapter 8 of the Gospel of John constitute the chosen motto of the apostolic visit.
“The visit has two objectives”, said bishop Pasotto: 
the first is linked to the life of the Churches and the communion among them. The second is the aspiration to peace. The three regions of the Caucasus: Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, are lands where peace is under constant threat.” The ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan for the region of Nagorno Karabakh is cause of serious concern, along with hanging disputes over the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia where, after the ethnic-territorial clashes of the 1990s, a true peace negotiation has not yet been reached. “The Pope – Bishop Pasotto remarked – will devote primary attention to peace in his speech. In this respect, the three visits in the Caucasus must be viewed from the same perspective.
Peace stems from the unity of the Churches, from the acceptance of the diverse political realities living side by side. It stems from justice and from the respect of everyone’s rights.”
Catholics in Georgia represent less than 1% of the overall population, amounting to 30-40 thousand people. They belong to three different rites: Latin, Armenian and Syro-Chaldean. The Orthodox represent 85% of the overall population. The autocephalous apostolic Church of Georgia is led with paternal wisdom since 1977 by His Holiness and Beatitude Elias II, considered the highest moral authority of the Georgian people by the population at large. Muslim believers represent 11% of the population. “The Catholic Church has been a small, albeit significant reality throughout the course of history – Pasotto remarked –a constantly active presence within the social fabric of the country, a part of the life of the population.
It’s a Church that has always been actively committed.”
Being close to the poor, supporting young people, helping the most marginalized areas of the Country, are some characterising features of the history of the Church in this small corner of Europe. The book of time was leafed through by Valentina Vartui Karakhanian, researcher of Armenian-Georgian origins, postulator at the Secret Vatican archives, during a meeting organized by the University of the Holy Cross in Rome. The first “quasi official” mission of the Catholic Church was carried out by the Missionary Sisters of Charity that set up a community for assistance to the homeless and the poor of the capital. Almost simultaneously, in 1991, the Camillian Fathers arrived in the Caucasus region. With the help of Caritas Italy they set up the hospital “Redemptoris Mater” of Ashotsk in Armenia and the polyclinic “Redemptor Hominis” in Tbilisi, providing healthcare services to thousands of poor people, along with home assistance for the most needy.
Caritas Georgia is one of the most important initiatives of the Catholic Church in Georgia. It was officially recognized as a non-governmental local Organization in 1994, and it continues offering precious service throughout the country with soup kitchens, outpatient treatment in the poorest areas of the Country, vocational schools, assistance to “street children.” The Stigmatine Fathers arrived in 1994. Their parish activities in the cities of Batumi and Kutaisi are coupled by initiatives of support to the elderly, to children and young people experiencing difficulties, and to the homeless. The Salesian nuns give a crucial contribution to child education through their humble commitment. In the cultural sector, a remarkable contribution is also given by the Catholic University “Sulkhan Saba Orbeliani”, established 15 years ago in Tbilisi. In the month of June 2007 the Community Pope John Paul XXIII Association opened a shelter and care home for young alcoholics and youths in difficult situations near the city of Batumi.
Preparations in full swing in the city of Tblisi. The Pope will be arriving one week before the national elections, and although media attention is focused on the political developments in the Country, there has been a widespread request by the population at large – including non-Catholics – for entry tickets to see the Pope. Mons. Pasotto looks forward to good weather, for rainfalls would make the organization of the event more difficult. He added: “We will try to share with the Pope something about ourselves.” The opportunity will be offered in the planned meeting in the cathedral where some representatives of the Georgian Church will take the floor for a “short” address. “My wish – Pasotto concluded – is to transmit to the Pope the fact that as a minority Church, that has nothing to defend, we are in some respects freer to be in touch with the fundamental aspects of our faith and proclaim the Gospel with joy, despite the hardships connected with our small reality that prevent us from doing everything we wish. The Catholic population in Georgia view the Pope’s visit as the embrace of the Universal Church to this land, where we sometimes experience feelings of loneliness, along with a confirmation of the path of faith we have undertaken:
go ahead, the Pope will say to us, this is the path you were indicated by God. Have no doubts.”
