Patriarch Grégoire-Pierre XV Agagianian’s remains arrive in Beirut

The transparent coffin holding the body was carried by members of all religious sects represented in the Lebanese Constitution.

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.
“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.”