Election of archbishop of Beirut of the Maronites, Lebanon

Election of two bishops of the Patriarchal Curia of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon

Election of archbishop of Beirut of the Maronites, Lebanon

The Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Church of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon, has elected as archbishop of Beirut of the Maronites H.E. Msgr. Paul Abdel Sater, currently bishop of the Patriarchal Curia and titular of Ptolomais in Phoenicia of the Maronites.

Election of two bishops of the Patriarchal Curia of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon

The Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Church of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon, has elected as bishops of the Patriarchal Curia the Rev. Antoine Aoukar, O.A.M., and Peter Karam, to which the Holy Father has given his assent, and has assigned them the titular sees of Ptolomais in Phoenicia of the Maronites and Arcena in Phoenicia of the Maronites.

Curriculum vitae of Msgr. Antoine Aoukar, O.A.M.

Msgr. Antoine Aoukar, O.A.M., was born in 1964 in Mreiji, Beirut, Lebanon, gave his religious vows in 1995, and was ordained a priest in 1996. He holds a licentiate in mathematics from the Lebanese University, a licentiate in theology and another in biblical theology from the Institut Catholique of Lyon, and a doctorate in biblical studies from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.

Since ordination he has held a number of pastoral and academic roles, including: professor of sacred scripture in various universities, parish priest, chaplain of the Foi et Lumière Community, and superior of the Monastery of Mar Chaya. He is currently vicar general of his Order.

Curriculum vitae of Msgr. Peter Karam

Msgr. Peter Karam was born on 5 September 1959 in Beirut. He studied philosophy at the Saint-Joseph University of Beirut. In 1984 he transferred to the United States, where he studied in the Maronite Seminary of Washington, obtaining a licentiate at the Catholic University of America.

On 2 January 1988 he was ordained a priest for the then sole Maronite eparchy, and was incardinated there after its creation in that of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles.

He was appointed administrator of the Saint John Maron Mission in Anaheim, California, and then parish priest of Our Lady of Lebanon in Millbrae. California. From 1996 to 2000 he carried out studies in philosophy at the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität of Munich, Germany.

Upon re-entry in the United States, in 2001, he held the following offices: parish priest of the Latin parish of Saint Matthew and chargé of the Saint Joseph Maronite Mission in Seattle, Washington, parish priest in Cleveland, Ohio, director of the Office for the Protection of Minors, director of Ongoing Formation of the Clergy, member of the College of Consultors and syncellus for the Clergy.

Besides Arabic, he speaks English, German and French.