Youssef Absi
| His Beatitude Youssef Absi SMSP | |
|---|---|
| Patriarch of Antioch and of All the East, of Alexandria, and of Jerusalem | |
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Absi in 2018
| |
| Native name | يوسف عبسي |
| Church | Melkite Greek Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Antioch |
| See | Antioch |
| Elected | 21 June 2017 |
| Predecessor | Gregory III Laham |
| Previous posts | Curial Bishop (2001–2007) Patriarchal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Damascus (2007–2017) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 6 May 1973 by Maximos V Hakim |
| Consecration | 2 September 2001 by Gregory III Laham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Absi 20 June 1946 Damascus, Syria |
| Denomination | Melkite Greek Catholic Church |
| Alma mater | St. Paul Seminary, Harissa; Lebanese University; Holy Spirit University of Kaslik |
Youssef Absi SMSP[1] (Arabic: يوسف عبسي; Latin: Iosephus Absi; born 20 June 1946, in Damascus, Syria) is a priest in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. In 2026, he is the current Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, serving since 21 June 2017.[2]
Ecclesiastical career
On May 6, 1973, Youssef Absi was ordained a priest and became chaplain of the Missionary Society of St. Paul (abbreviated as S.M.S.P.), a Melkite Greek Society of Apostolic Life that is also known as the Pères Paulistes.[3] After the conclusion of philosophical and theological studies at the Major Seminary of St. Paul in Harissa, Lebanon, he obtained a licentiate in philosophy at the Lebanese University, a licentiate in theology at the Institute of St. Paul in Harissa, and a doctorate in musical science and hymnography at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.[4]
On June 22, 2001, he was appointed titular archbishop of Tarsus dei Greco-Melkiti and curial bishop and auxiliary bishop in the Melkite Patriarchate. Patriarch Gregory III Laham was his consecrator, and the co-consecrators were Archbishop Jean Mansour, titular archbishop of Apamea in Syria dei Greco-Melkiti, and Archbishop Joseph Kallas, Archeparch of Beirut and Byblos, on September 2, 2001.[5]
From 1999 to 2006, he was Superior General of his religious community, the Missionary Society of St. Paul. He assisted as co-consecrator at the episcopal ordination of Yasser Ayyash, Archbishop of Petra and Philadelphia in Jordan. In October 2007, he was appointed patriarchal vicar for the archdiocese of Damascus.
He was elected on June 21, 2017, as the patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. His election came a month after Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Gregory III Laham.[6]
Other activities
In 2001, he became president of the Caritas Syria (Commission Commune de Bienfaisance (CCB))[7] and forwards with three full-time members more than 40 projects in Damascus, Aleppo and Hassake. He composed for the singer Marie Keyrouz "L'Ensemble de la Paix", a hymn that was released on the album Cantiques de l'Orient.[8]
On the Middle East
As a participant in the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Middle East in October 2010, he gave an address in which he insisted that: "The Episcopal Conferences of each country should meet from time to time together. You should allow bi-ritualism, so that no parish remains without divine liturgy, no matter what church it belongs to."[9]
Absi has stated his support for an independent Palestinian state, believing peace in the Middle East impossible without a solution for the Palestinian people.[10]
See also
References
- Back to citation "Die Apostolische Nachfolge". Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
- Back to citation "About the Melkite Church". St. Jacob Melkite Catholic Church. Retrieved 30 June 2026; "Joseph Absi elected patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church". The Daily Star (Lebanon). Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2017; "Melkite Catholic Church elects new patriarch, a native of Syria". The Catholic Register. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017.
- Back to citation Società dei Missionari di San Paolo – Missionary Society of St. Paul (Melkite Greek); see catholic-hierarchy.org.
- Back to citation Sala Stampa della Santa Sede - Bollettino 14.07.2001
- Back to citation Bishop Joseph Absi Elected Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch
- Back to citation "Joseph Absi elected patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church". The Daily Star (Lebanon). Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- Back to citation caritas.org
- Back to citation Amazon website, Cantiques De L'Orient
- Back to citation vaticanhistory.de Archived 2020-09-20 at the Wayback Machine Quote translated from German.
- Back to citation "Syrian Patriarch: Despite all the difficulties, it has been "a time of great grace"". ACN International. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
External links
- Diocese of Newtown for the Melkite Catholic Church
- Spiritual Protector of the Order of Saint Lazarus Archived 2014-12-16 at the Wayback Machine
- Melkite Greek Catholic Church website, Final Communiqué of the Synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church Ain Traz, 9–14 October 2006 (Internet Archive)
- Catholic Hierarchy website
- GCcatholic website
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lutfy Laham |
Titular Archbishop of Tarsus 2001–2017 |
Vacant |
| Preceded by Gregory III Laham |
Melkite Greek Patriarch of Antioch 2017–present |
Incumbent |