From Patriarch Sabbah to Patriarch Twal
The weekend of June 21-22, 2008 marks an important transition for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. After twenty years of service, H.B. Patriarch Michel Sabbah retires and is succeeded by Mgr. Fouad Twal as the new Patriarch of Jerusalem.
On Saturday, June 21, 2008, at 16.00, Mgr. Michel Sabbah celebrated a final mass as Patriarch of Jerusalem in the Basilica of Gethsemane. At one moment during the service, he handed over the Patriarch's staff to his successor Mgr. Fouad Twal.
To read fuller reports see the sites:
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
For a short video of the mass: View
On Sunday, June 22, 2008, at 14.30, Mgr. Fouad Twal, new Patriarch of Jerusalem made his solemn entry into the Holy Sepulcher. A procession of priests, seminarians, religious and other faithful led the procession of the Patriarch, surrounded by bishops, leaders of the other Christian communities and the civil authorities. At the Holy Sepulcher, the Patriarch was received by the representatives of the Custodians of the Holy Places, foremost among them the Custos of the Holy Land (and our own Vicar), Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
To read fuller reports and the address of the new Patriarch see the sites:
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
For a short video of the entry: View
On Monday, June 23, 2008, at 10.00, Mgr. Fouad Twal celebrated his first mass as Patriarch of Jerusalem in the Holy Sepulcher.
To read fuller reports see the sites:
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
On Tuesday, June 24, 2008, the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, H.B. Patriarch Fouad Twal ordained Johny Abu Khalil to the diaconate in the parish church of Ramallah. This was a first ordination for the new patriarch.
On Wednesday, June 25, 2008, the new Patriarch made his solemn entry into the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
To read fuller reports see the sites:
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem