The Armenian Cardinal Gregory Peter XV Aghajanian—a Pioneering Figure in the Holy Roman Church

Abstract

The presented paper is dedicated to one of the prominent Armenians of the 20th century world, Cardinal Gregory Peter XV Aghajanian (1895–1971), who, with his influential role, stands as a monumental figure in the Holy Roman Catholic Church, at the same time being an outstanding figure of Armenian identity and heritage. Being born in a region marked by political and social upheaval (in the Caucasus), then living in the West and in the East parts of the world and traveling around the globe, he devoted his life to the clerical mission and regulation of inter-ecclesiastical issues, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, aiming to spread Catholicism as well as to bridge divisions between different Christian denominations and promote understanding among diverse Christian communities.

Cardinal Aghajanian, an Armenian Catholic priest, played a significant role as a high-ranking cleric and ‘pastoral diplomat’ within the Vatican. Being the Patriarch-Catholicos of Cilicia from 1937 to 1962, he attained the rank of cardinal in 1946 and subsequently held the position of prefect of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith from 1958/60 to 1970. He played a key role in the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), acting for renewal and reforms within the Catholic Church. Appointed as a member of the Roman Curia and serving in different positions, he attempted to promote dialogue between the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox churches. He was also known for his work with the Eastern Catholic Churches and his contributions to their missionary activities and the canon regulation. His contributions are also obvious to the Armenian Catholic presence within the larger Catholic community. Aghajanian's ecclesiastical and missionary legacy is characterized by his commitment to unity and the promotion of peace, making him a pioneering figure in the evolution of the Church during a transformative period of the 20th century. His brilliant knowledge and diplomatic skills, mastering the art of negotiation, and the virtues characteristic of a cleric earned him a position of influence within the Roman Church, where his insights and guidance were sought after in matters of both faith and governance. He was twice nominated and considered as a candidate for Pope (1958 and 1963), possibly due to the above circumstances. Finally, he lived during a unique period of the evolution of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, i.e., during the reign of the 20th century's distinguished popes, among them Pius X (1903-1914), Benedict XV (1914-1922), Pius XI (1922-1939), Pius XII (1939-1958), John XXIII (1958-1963), and Paul VI (1963-1978). So, he was the Armenian who was noticed by some of the mentioned popes, entrusting him with a number of important positions and missions, thus further ensuring his irreplaceable place in the then-operating Roman Curia and the Church atmosphere in general. Essentially, Cardinal Aghajanian was destined to become one of the most famous figures of the Holy See of the Vatican in the middle of the 20th century, to be a part of various world political-diplomatic, spiritual, ecclesiastical, and international affairs, and in consequence to be at the center of those events. His rich lifetime activities may be divided into a few parts: a priest and a teacher, a bishop and an administrator, the patriarch—a caring father and a pastoral diplomat, a cardinal and a voice for spreading Christianity, a high-ranking cleric, and a diplomatic figure in ecclesiastical-political matters. He always acted for Catholicism, for the propagation of the faith and evangelization.