Pope Francis appoints new bishop for Los Angeles Maronites

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert Joseph Shaheen as head of the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, in Los Angeles, California, USA, on Wednesday. Bishop Shaheen has reached the canonical age for retirement. Also on Wednesday, Pope Francis appointed Fr. Abdallah Elias Zaidan, M.L. to succeed Bishop Shaheen. Until now, Bishop-elect Abdallah had been the Proto-presbyter and Rector of the Maronite Cathedral of Los Angeles, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Lebanon - St. Peter. The bishop-elect was born in Kosaybe, Lebanon in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1986. He has served in a number of pastoral roles: a member of the Episcopal Council of the south-west and north-west zone of the Maronite Eparchy of Los Angeles; a member of the Tele-Lumiere Council of America, coordinator of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal; member of the Sexual Abuse Board; and member of Caritas Lebanon.