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Your email address will not be published.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

General Assembly 2026: contributions from the new generations

General Assembly 2026: contributions from the new generations

The journey towards the 2026 General Assembly of the Focolare Movement really involves everyone. Here are some contributions from the new generations, in particular we will hear the voice of some gen4, gen3 and gen2 (the children, adolescents and young people of the Focolare) from various countries of the world.

Prha Pittaya: dialogue as a way of welcome

Prha Pittaya: dialogue as a way of welcome

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, we would like to share a short excerpt from the interview with a Theravada Buddhist monk from Thailand, Prha Pittaya.