German Ambassador Congratulates Shio III: “Be Shepherds of God’s Flock”

German Ambassador to Georgia Peter Fischer has congratulated the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III, on his election. Congratulations and all good wishes to Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, now Shio III, on being elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. «Be sheperds of God’s flock» 1 Peter 5:2-3 pic.twitter.com/u9nao3RVqS — Peter Fischer (@Diplo_Peter) May 11, 2026 “Congratulations and all good wishes to Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, now Shio III, on the occasion of his election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. ‘Be shepherds of God’s flock’ 1 Peter 5:2-3,” the diplomat wrote. It should be added that the words from the New Testament cited by Fischer—the phrase “Be shepherds of God’s flock”—are a semantic rendering of a verse from the First Epistle of the Apostle […]

German Ambassador to Georgia Peter Fischer has congratulated the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III, on his election.

«Congratulations and all good wishes to Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, now Shio III, on the occasion of his election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. “Be shepherds of God’s flock” 1 Peter 5:2-3,» the diplomat wrote.

It should be added that the words from the New Testament cited by Fischer—the phrase “Be shepherds of God’s flock”—are a semantic rendering of a verse from the First Epistle of Peter (1 Peter), chapter 5, verses 2–3.

In the more precise ecclesiastical translation (the Synodal translation), the meaning of this passage is as follows: the Apostle Peter addresses church ministers and calls on them to “tend the flock of God,” meaning to care for the believers and lead them not under compulsion, but voluntarily, with sincere service and by being an example to the flock.

This is an exhortation to spiritual leaders to be “shepherds” who care for the people, rather than “overlords.”