Personal: Born in Nazareth in 1933; ordained a priest in 1955; named Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1987.
Background: Professor of Arabic and dean of students at the Latin Patriarchal seminary in Bethlehem, 1957; director of schools of the Patriarchal Diocese of Jerusalem, 1966; president of the University of Bethlehem, 1980.
Other: Member of the Synod of Bishops, member of the Council of Oriental Catholics; member of the Council of Oriental Churches; president of the episcopal conference for Arab regions (CELRA), president of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries in the Holy Land; member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious dialogue; member of the Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulcher.