Archbishop Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will deliver a public talk entitled “Middle East Christians’ Future: In Whose Hands?”

 

The escalation of politically and religiously-based violence across the Middle East brings with it an increasingly dangerous environment for Christians. The rise of ISIS, tensions resulting from a seemingly endless Syrian civil conflict, and continued hardships for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza – among many other factors - all contribute to a precarious existence for Christians living in the region. Addressing these pressing issues, Patriarch Twal makes an urgent appeal for greater commitment to safeguarding the Middle East Christian community from human rights abuses.

 

Fouad Boutros Ibrahim Twal was appointed Bishop of Tunis in 1992 and elevated to Archbishop of Tunis in 1994.  Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Coadjutor Archbishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in September 2005, and succeeded Patriarch Michel Sabbah on June 21, 2008, becoming the second Arab and ninth Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since the restoration in 1847.

 

Patriarch Twal’s lecture is sponsored by The Center for Civil and Human Rights.