Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian

{{Short description|Head of the Armenian Catholic Church from 2021 to present}}

{{Infobox Christian leader

| type = Bishop

| honorific-prefix = His Beatitude

| name = Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian

| honorific-suffix = I.C.P.B.

| native_name = {{br list | {{Lang|hy|Ռաֆայել Պետրոս ԻԱ. Մինասյան}} | (Rrafayel Bedros XXI Minasyan) }}

| native_name_lang =

| title = Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia

| image = BedrosXXIMinassian.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| birth_name = Raphaël François Minassian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|11|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Beirut, Lebanon

| death_date =

| death_place =

| church = Armenian Catholic Church

| archdiocese = Cilicia

| province =

| metropolis =

| diocese =

| see = Patriarchate of Cilicia

| elected = 23 September 2021

| appointed =

| term =

| enthroned = 24 October 2021

| term_start =

| quashed =

| term_end =

| ordination = 24 June 1973 (Priest)

| ordained_by =

| consecration = 16 July 2011 (Bishop)

| consecrated_by = Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni

| cardinal =

| rank =

| predecessor = Gregory Peter XX Ghabroyan

| successor = Incumbent

| other_post = Patriarchal Exarch of Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem and Amman (2005–2011),
Ordinary of Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe,
Titular Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia for Armenians (2011–2021)

| alma_mater = Pontifical Gregorian University,
Salesian Pontifical University

}}

{{Infobox bishop styles

| name = Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian

| dipstyle = His Beatitude

| offstyle = Your Beatitude

| relstyle = Catholicos

| deathstyle =

}}

Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, I.C.P.B. ({{langx|hy|Ռաֆայել Պետրոս ԻԱ. Մինասյան}}; born 24 November 1946) is a Lebanese-born hierarch who serves as the 21st patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church. He previously served as ordinary of the Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe, which covers Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Ukraine, from 24 June 2011 to 23 September 2021 and as a Patriarchal Exarch of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem and Amman from 26 September 2005 to 24 June 2011.

He is also the president of Armenian Caritas.

Life

Raphaël François Minassian was born in Beirut, Lebanon on 24 November 1946. After the primary school education, he joined the Minor seminary of the Patriarchal Congregation of Bzommar in 1958, where he later made a profession. After that, he went on to study in Rome at the Pontifical Levonian Armenian College. He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a licentiate in philosophy and theology, and at the Salesian Pontifical University, where he earned a degree in the practical psychology. He was ordained a priest on 24 June 1973.

He then worked in various Armenian Catholic institutions in Lebanon and in the United States and at the same time performed pastoral work for the Armenian Catholics. On 26 September 2005, he was appointed Patriarchal Exarch of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem and Amman, where he served almost six years.{{cite web |url=http://armenianchurchco.com/en/6636.html|title=Fr. Raphael Archbishop Minassian |language= |work=Official Website of the Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe|accessdate=8 December 2017}}

On 24 June 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Minassian ordinary of the Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe.{{cite press release | access-date = 24 September 2021 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | date = 24 June 2011 | language =it | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2011/06/24/0392/00999.html | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 24.06.2011 }} He received his episcopal consecration on 16 July from Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, the Head of the Armenian Catholic Church.{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bminas|Archbishop Raphaël François Minassian, I.C.P.B.|8 December 2017}}

On 23 September 2021, he was elected as the Church's 21st patriarch and took the name Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian.{{cite web|title= Armenian Synod elects new Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia| date =23 September 2021 | url =https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-09/armenian-synod-elects-new-catholicos-patriarch-of-cilicia.html | publisher=Vatican News|access-date=23 September 2021}} He was enthroned as Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics on 24 October 2021 in Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Saint Elias and Saint Gregory the Illuminator in Beirut.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/it/chiesa/news/2021-10/cerimonia-patriarca-libano-raphael-bedros-minassian-armeni.html/|title=Minassian: il Libano soffre, mi metto a servizio per curarne i bisogni|website=Vatican News|language=it|date=24 October 2021|access-date=24 October 2021}}