William Hanna Shomali

Summary

William Hanna Shomali (born 15 May 1950 in Beit Sahour, West Bank) is a Palestinian Catholic prelate who serves as an auxiliary bishop for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.[1][2] Born in 1950 and ordained priest on June 24, 1972, he has served for eight years in the parishes of Jordan, 19 years as professor then as rector of the Seminary of Beit Jala, and then became General Administrator.


William Hanna Shomali
Titular Bishop of Lydda (titular see)
Appointed31 March 2010
Orders
Ordination24 June 1972
Consecration27 May 2010
Personal details
Born15 May 1950
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
MottoRogate pacem Jerusalem
Coat of armsWilliam Hanna Shomali's coat of arms

Biography edit

In 1961 William Hanna Shomali entered the Minor Seminary of Beit Jala, and later the seminary of Beit Jala. After completing his studies in philosophy and theology he received his ordination to priesthood on 24 June 1972. Shomali was then appointed chaplain in Zarqa, Jordan and pastor in Sheraton, Jordan. In 1980 he completed a postgraduate degree in English Literature from Yarmouk University and was a lecturer and later director of the Minor Seminary of Beit Jala.[3][4] In 1989 Shomali completed a Doctorate in Liturgical Studies at the Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm in Rome and worked as a professor of liturgy, Vice-Rector and dean of studies at the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology of the Major Seminary of Beit Jala.

In 1998 he became General Administrator and Economist of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Shomali was appointed rector of the Latin Patriarchate Seminary in Beit Jala in 2005. In 2009 he was appointed Chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Modern career edit

Pope Benedict XVI appointed William Hanna Shomali on 31 March 2010[5] as Titular bishop of Lydda (titular see) and ordered him in succession to Kamal Hanna Bathish as Auxiliary bishop in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Shomali became responsible as Patriarchal Vicar for Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Cyprus. He received his episcopal consecration on 27 May of the same year by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, in Bethlehem;[6] his Co-consecrators were the two auxiliary bishops in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Salim Sayegh and Giacinto Boulos-Marcuzzo.[7][8][9]

In his role as Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem, Shomali has been interviewed in the press about various Middle Eastern topics, including the Pope's visit to the Palestinians,[10][11] World Youth Day,[12][10] Palestinians in Israel[13] and the conflict in the Gaza Strip.[10][14]

On February 8, 2017, Bishop Shomali was nominated as Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan by Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of Latin Patriarchate,[15] succeeding Bishop Maroun Lahham who had resigned two days earlier on February 6, 2017.[16][17]

References edit

  1. ^ "DEON.pl". Archived from the original on 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  2. ^ "ASIA/HOLY LAND - Bishop Shomali: any consent of the Church to the Wall in the Valley of Cremisan was denied in court - Agenzia Fides". www.fides.org. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  3. ^ "H.B. William Shomali | Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem". Archived from the original on 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  4. ^ CNA. "'Get out of the ghetto,' new auxiliary bishop of Jerusalem urges Christians". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  5. ^ "LPJ | Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem". Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  6. ^ "Father William Shomali, new auxiliary bishop". Catholic.co.il. 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
  7. ^ "Custodia.fr".
  8. ^ "AD_2011_ge" (PDF). vatican.va. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  9. ^ "Holy Land prays for peace during Easter". En.radiovaticana.va. 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
  10. ^ a b c CNA. "Revenge only perpetuates violence, Jerusalem bishop observes". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  11. ^ "MIDDLE EAST/ Bishop Shomali: This is how Francis can bring peace to Israel and Palestine". Archived from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  12. ^ "Middle East Christians Faith Under Fire". ncregister.com.
  13. ^ Sudilovsky, Judith (26 May 2011). "Jerusalem Bishop: Obama's Speeches Not Enough". cnewa.org. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  14. ^ "Israel strikes leave Gaza without water and electricity, official says". Catholic Philly. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  15. ^ Bishop William Shomali nominated as Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan
  16. ^ "The Holy Father Has Accepted the Resignation of His Excellency Msgr MarounL ahham". lpj.org.
  17. ^ "Bishop William Shomali on Pope's visit to Holy Land". Archived from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2014-10-07.

External links edit

  • http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bshomali.html
  • https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/oessh/ad/ad2011/AD_2011_ge.pdf
  • http://vimeo.com/12106563