Raphaël François Minassian

Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, I.C.P.B. (; born Raphaël François Minassian; 24 November 1946) is a Lebanese-born Armenian prelate who has served as the 21st patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church since 2021. He previously served as the Ordinary for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe from 2011 to 2021 and as a Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Amman from 2005 to 2011. He serves as president of Armenian Caritas and is a member of the Patriarchal Congregation of Bzommar.

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.

On 24 June 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Minassian ordinary of the Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe. He received his episcopal consecration on 16 July from Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, the Head of the Armenian Catholic Church.

On 23 September 2021, he was elected as the Church's 21st patriarch and took the name Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian. 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.