Focolare Movement

New Greek Catholic Patriarch

Jun 27, 2017

Joseph Absi, Patriarchal Vicar of Damascus, has been elected to guide the Greek Catholic Church. The new Patriarch, who succeeds 85 year-old Gregory III Laham, studied theology in France and Lebanon. He earned a licenciate in philosophy at the Lebanese State University and a PhD in music at the Pontifical University of Kaslik. Archbishop Absi […]

Joseph Absi, Patriarchal Vicar of Damascus, has been elected to guide the Greek Catholic Church. The new Patriarch, who succeeds 85 year-old Gregory III Laham, studied theology in France and Lebanon. He earned a licenciate in philosophy at the Lebanese State University and a PhD in music at the Pontifical University of Kaslik. Archbishop Absi belongs to the Missionary Society of Saint Paul (Paulist Fathers). He has been a priest since 1973 and Superior General since 1999. He was ordained a bishop in 2001 and was president of the Syrian Caritas, promoting more than 40 projects in Damascus, Aleppo and Hassaké with the help of collaborators. One topic that is particulary dear to the new Melkite Patriarch is the unity among Catholic Eastern Churches.  

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

The Road of Hope

The Road of Hope

50 years after the publication of Card.François-Xavier Nguyễn Vân Thuân’s most famous book, an event was held in the Lateran Palace in Rome, streamed in seven languages. A new biography of the well-known witness of hope was also launched.

An invitation to a real turning point

An invitation to a real turning point

Pope Leo XIV meets the Focolare Movement and confirms the charism of unity, which is not the result of organisation or strategic planning but a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the Father. An article by Margaret Karram for “L’Osservatore Romano”.

The seal of unity

The seal of unity

During his recent audience with all the participants of the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement, Pope Leo XIV commented: “Unity is a seed – simple yet powerful – which attracts thousands of men and women, inspires vocations, and generates a zeal for evangelisation, as well as social, cultural, artistic and economic works, and is a leaven for ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.” Here are some words from Chiara Lubich, spoken on the 9th of November 1989 during a “Link-up”, which present unity to us as the rock upon which our lives are built.