Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Remarks to Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation

His Beatitude Michel Sabbah
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Born in the Israeli Arab city of Nazareth in March of 1933, Michel Sabbah entered the seminary at age 10. On June 29, 1955, at the age of 22 he was ordained a priest and served as Assistant Priest in the Parish of Madaba (Jordan). Now 71, His Beatitude presides over about 400,000 Catholics in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jordan. He is also the region's first Palestinian patriarch, elected to the post in 1987. All his predecessors were Italian.


Born in Nazareth March 19, 1933
Entered Latin Patriarchal Seminary of Beit Jala (Bethlehem) October 1949
Ordained priest in Nazareth June 29, 1955
Curate in the Parish of Madaba (Jordan) 1955
Teacher of arabic at the Latin Patriarchal Seminary of Beit Jala (Bethlehem) 1957
Studies of arab philology at the University St. Joseph Beirut, Lebanon 1959
Responsible for the youth in the Diocese of Jeruselam 1964
Director of the Schools in the Patriarchal Diocese of Jeruselam 1966
Arabic and Islamology teacher Djibouti, Africa 1968
Parish priest Christ the King Parish Amman, Jordan 1970
Doctorate from the Sorbonne in Arabic Philology 1973
President of Bethlehem University 1980
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Publication 1987
Publications
"First pastoral letter" the faith in the Holy Land 1988
Second pastoral letter "Ask for the peace for Jerusalem" on the Intifada and the voice of the Church and the Christians 1990
Third pastoral letter for the centenary of Father Youssef Tannous, of the patriarchal clergy, founder of the Nuns of the Rosary 1991
Lenten letter on Emigration 1992
Fourth pastoral letter "Read the Bible in the land of the Bible" 1993





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