New Apostolic Vicar for Aleppo
On Sunday, September 17th, 2023, the church of St. Francis of Assisi, in Aleppo, Syria, celebrated the Episcopal Ordination of Mgr. Hanna Jallouf, ofm, the new Vicar Apostolic of Aleppo, through the laying of hands, and consecration prayer by His Excellency Archbishop Claudio Gugerottim, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches. Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, was a participating consecrating bishop along with His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
It is the first time that the Holy See in Rome has appointed a Syrian bishop to oversee the Latin parishes in Syria.
His Holiness, Pope Francis appointed Fr. Jallouf, who was born and has served as a priest for several years in Idlib governate. In an interview with the Arabic Catholic News Agency (EWTN News), Fr. Jallouf talked about the situation of Christians of Idlib saying: “Before the war, the province of Aleppo had 10,000 Christians, but now the number does not exceed 700 people, including two Franciscan priests. We had 11 priests before the crisis. We have gone through difficult circumstances, especially when it came to living out the faith. But they knew that we are honest and peaceful people that reflect God's love for humans, so we stayed there to prove that this land is Christian. And that whatever happens, Christianity will remain in this land.”
He chose the verse " I am among you as the one who serves." (Luke 27:22) for his episcopal emblem to confirm that he did not come to be above people but to serve them.
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Click here to view the live recording of the ordination.
