Pope Names Arch. Fouad Twal Patriarch of Jerusalem

(21 June 08 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI named Fouad Twal, Patriarch of Jerusalem Saturday.

Formerly Coadjutor to the Patriarchate, Bishop Twal succeeds Archbishop Michel Sabbah who has reached the age of retirement.

Saturday afternoon a thanksgiving mass at Gethsemani Basilica, Jerusalem, will be celebrated by outgoing Patriarch Michel Sabbah.

On Sunday June 22 Archbishop Twal will be officially enthroned at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.

The Latin Patriarchate covers all Latin Rite Catholics in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan

Patriarch Twal says that freedom of movement for priests and religious between these regions is a primary pastoral concern.

“We receive a lot of help and we are grateful but at the same time we say we need more.  What we need is peace.  We don’t only to be a begging Church, we don’t want to be beggars with a licence.  I don’t like this.  We need a political horizon, it’s time to put an end to the Wall, the Checkpoints, it’s time for a Palestinian State, it’s time for an end to our problems with visa’s.   The majority of our priests, nuns, schools, families are in Jordan. We need a link to Jordan we need to be able to move with freedom and liberty for our pastoral work.  I am not speaking about politics, let’s leave politics to the politicians, I am a bishop, we want to move for our pastoral work and we are handicapped”.