Pierre Mouallem

Bishopric of St. Gabriel Church in Haifa

Pierre Mouallem SMSP , also Boutros Mouallem (born May 10, 1928 in Eilaboun , Israel ) is Old Archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church for the Melkite Christians living in Israel , with the bishopric in Haifa . His birthplace Eilaboun ( Arabic عيلبونAilabun, Hebrew עַילַבּוּן, עֵילַבּוּן) is a local association in Israel's northern district inhabited by Israeli Arabs . The approximately 4800 residents are predominantly Christian Palestinians .

Bishop in Brazil

Pierre Mouallem was ordained a religious priest of the Mission Society of St. Paul on November 21, 1955 . The appointment for the third Bishop of the Melkites in Brazil on 20 April 1990. The episcopal ordination on 29 June 1990 by Patriarch Archbishop Maximos V Hakim and the co-consecrators Archbishop Jean Mansour SMSP, Auxiliary Bishop of Antioch , and Archbishop Jean Asaad Haddad of Tyros carried out in Lebanon . In Brazil he contributed to the spread of the traditional Byzantine rites in the country. But he also advocated the preservation of the rites within the church.

Archbishop of Israel

On July 29, 1998, Mouallem was named Archbishop of Akka in Israel, succeeding Archbishop Maximos Salloum . The appointment of Mouallem as archbishop of the Archepary of Akka led to political disharmonies between Israel and the Holy See . From the Israeli point of view, the new archbishop would underline the pro-Palestinian position too strongly. On a rather harsh note, the Holy See refused to interfere in its decisions. The appointment of the archbishop drew Israeli suspicion and Mouallem was under constant scrutiny.

Participant in the Synod of Bishops

From November 16 to December 12, 1997, he was a participant in the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for America in Rome . In his comments on the final bulletin , he called for learning from the long experience of the Eastern Churches and for using them for America. In his six points he called on a.) To practice more of one's own rites , b.) To be allowed to practice the rites of the Eastern Churches on one's own responsibility, c.) To set up a commission for the Eastern Churches at every bishops' conference , d.) To establish a study center for theology, liturgy and spirituality in America, e.) to establish congregations and monasteries with a "double rite" and ultimately more should be taught in schools and other educational institutions about the Eastern churches and their spiritual heritage.

Retirement

For reasons of age, he was on 18 July 2003 emeritus , then he was Archbishop Georges Nicolas Haddad as apostolic administrator set aside, who led the business until of 2006. In 2006 Mouallem was co-consecrator of his successor in the office of Archbishop Elias Chacour .

Web links

• Entry on Pierre Mouallem on catholic-hierarchy.org
• Entry on Pierre Mouallem on gcatholic.org (English)
• History of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Brazil
• Vatican Snubs Israeli Protest Over Naming Of Palestinian . The New York Times
• Blessings from Pope John Paul II on the occasion of taking office in Akka. ( Memento from April 21, 2013 in the web archive archive.today ) (Italian)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Pope appoints new Melkite bishop for Galilee
2. ↑ July-August 1998 Chronology of US-Middle East Relations
3. ^ Participants in the Synod of Bishops, Nov 16 - Dec 12, 1997
4. ^ Bulletin on the Synod of Bishops

predecessor	Office	successor
Spiridon Mattar	Bishop of Nossa Senhora do Paraíso em São Paulo 1990–1998	Fares Maakaroun