wfn.org | NEW PATRIARCH FOR MELKITE GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH

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Contact: 
Greek Catholic Patriarchate, Jerusalem Vicarate
Email: gcpjer@p-ol.com

www.Al-bushra.org

or
Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation
Email: news@hcef.org (HCEF News)

JERUSALEM, December 3, 2000 -- Archbishop Loutfi Laham of Jerusalem has 
been elected as the new Patriarch of the Melkite Catholic Church.  During a 
dozen or so years in this Holy City, he served as the Patriarchal Vicar for 
Greek Catholics in Israel and the West Bank.

After his election by the Melkite synod, which met in Lebanon last week, the 
new Patriarch chose the name Gregory III. 

He becomes the Patriarch of Antioch for the Melkite Church, and the leader of 
the million faithful who belong to the Eastern-rite Church.  The Patriarchal 
see is in Damascus.

The new patriarch is fully expected to obtain the prompt recognition of Pope 
John Paul II, and to extend the full communion between the Melkite Church and 
the Holy See.  

Patriarch Gregory replaces Patriarch Maximos V Hakim, who was forced to 
resign at the age of 92 after suffering a serious stroke earlier this year.

The new Melkite spiritual leader was born in Daraya, near Damascus, in Syria 
in 1933. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1959, and to the episcopate in 
1981. During his service in Jerusalem the Greek Catholics became the fastest 
growing Christian group.

The Melkite faithful are concentrated in the Middle East, in Syria, Lebanon, 
and the Holy Land; but there are also substantial numbers in the United 
States and Canada.

The new patriarch has become widely known in Jerusalem and is loved for his 
ecumenical spirit and his strong support for justice for Palestinian 
Christians and Muslims.  He has been an advocate for dialogue among 
Christians, Jews and Muslims in the region and is recognized for his 
scholarly as well as pastoral approach to the issues facing the religious 
communities in Israel and the West Bank.  He has been very active in Al 
'Liqu, the Palestinian center for theological dialogue.

He is expected to continue and expand his communitity's participation in the 
Middle East Council of Churches.

-End-