We are deeply saddened to inform the passing of His Beatitude Krikor Bedros XX Gabroyan, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church, who passed away on May 25, in Beirut, Lebanon. He was 86.
 
Born in Aleppo, Syria, and raised in Lebanon, he received his higher education in Rome and served as an Armenian Catholic priest and teacher in Lebanon and France. He rose to become the Apostolic Exarch in France, and later the country’s Primate and Armenian Catholic Eparch and Bishop.

He was enthroned as the 20th Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Cilicia in 2015, succeeding Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni. After his election, he was granted ecclesial communion with Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church.

The burial mass will take place on Saturday, May 29, at Beirut’s Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator and St. Elias. Patriarch Krikor Bedros XX will be interred in the Armenian Catholic Patriarchal cemetery of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption, in Bzommar-Keserwan, Lebanon.

Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel has directed parishes to offer the requiem service in his memory on Sunday, May 30. We convey our sympathies to our Armenian Catholic brethren and join them in prayer for the repose of our Lord’s servant, Patriarch Krikor Bedros.