Place
& Date of Birth: Born on May 15, 1920, in the Maronite town of
Rayfoun in Kesrouan. Son of Maroun Sfeir and Hanneh Fahd (From Ghosta) with five
sisters: Matilla, Jawhara, Audith, Laure, Milaneh.Status: Cardinal Sfeir is the 3rd Maronite Cardinal and the 76th Patriarch of the Maronite Church.
Education: Completed his Primary and Complementary studies at Mar Abda School in Harharaya and his Secondary studies (i.e. High School) at St. Maron Seminary in Ghazir. Holds a Doctorate degree in Philosophical and Theological studies from Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon
Career: Ordained Priest on May 7, 1950. Priest of Rayfoun Parish, in charge of the secretariat of the Maronite Bishopric of Damascus (1951 - 1955). Secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke and Professor of Translation in Literature and Philosophy at the Freres Maronite School in Jounieh (1956). Appointed Titular Bishop of Tarse and Patriarchal Vicar (June 19,1961). Appointment confirmed by His Holiness Pope John XXIII (July 3, 1961). Ordained Bishop (July 16, 1961). Patriarchal Vicar and Secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate (1961 - 1986). Elected Maronite Patriarch for Antioch and all the East (April 19, 1986). Entrusted by His Holiness Pope John Paul II with the "ecclesiastic communio" (May 7, 1986). Created Cardinal by His Holiness Pope John Paul II (November 26, 1994). Delegate President of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Lebanon (1995).
Languages: As the case is with most Maronite Patriarchs and monks, his Eminence is fluent in Arabic, Syriac/Aramaic, French, Italian/Latin, and English .
Publications (In Arabic): Of the sources of the Gospel, Bkerke, 1975, 416 pages. Personalities who have disappeared from 1961 - 1974 in 2 volumes, Bkerke, 1984. Sunday Sermons: spiritual reflections and stand of national positions, many volumes, Bkerke, 1988 to present.
Contact Information: Maronite Patriarchate, Bkerke, Lebanon. Email:jtawk@bkerke.org.lb
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