Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State to His Holiness Pope Francis will arrive in Georgia with an official visit on December 28-30. An official reception in honouring of the high-ranking guest will be held at Tbilisi Sakrebulo (City Assembly) on December 28.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin will hold a meeting with Georgian governmental officials to discuss issues related to bilateral relations and national and regional challenges. He will arrive at the occupational line together with Gori Metropolitan Andrea and State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.

The Cardinal will visit IDPs in Tserovani settlement and meet with family members of Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, kept in imprisonment by the occupied regime.

On December 28, Pietro Parolin will give a church service at Virgin Mary Ascension Catholic Church in Tbilisi.

On December 29, Secretary of State will arrive at Didube Center of Caritas Georgia Charity Foundation. Later that afternoon, he will meet with Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II.

This is the first visit of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State to His Holiness Pope Francis to Georgia. Pope Francis appointed Parolin Secretary of State on August 31, 2013. He replaced Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone on the post. Parolin took office on October 15, 2013.