New Patriarchal Vicar in the Hebrew speaking communities

Father David, who has been Pastoral Coordinator of the communities until now, served also as the Secretary General of the communities. Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the former Vicar for the communities, named him to this post in September 2006.

As is known, Father Pierbattista resigned from his post because of the all-consuming nature of his task as Custodian of the Holy Places in the Holy Land (head of the Franciscans) and his resignation was accepted by the Patriarch on September 27, 2008.

Father David is an Israeli Jesuit from a Jewish family, 47 years old and has served since 2007 as the priest responsible for the Hebrew speaking community in Haifa. He is a lecturer in Bible at the Latin Patriarchate Seminary in Beit Jala and at Bethlehem University.