SOUTHFIELD — The Arab American Catholic community in Michigan is preparing to welcome Beatitude Fouad B. Twal, Patriarch of Jerusalem, as part of a multi-city U.S. tour on September 23 at the city’s Regency Manor at 6:30 p.m. 

Twal is the second Arab Patriarch of the Holy Land to be appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, in June 2008. In 1987 he was the first Arab Palestinian appointed to become the Latin Patriarch. 

Twal

At the conclusion of the official enthronement, at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem in 2008, Twal took aim at the conditions of Arab Christians in the area because of Israeli  occupation. 

 “Freedom of movement for priests and religious leaders between these regions is a primary pastoral concern … It’s time to put an end to the wall… to  checkpoints,…and to establish a Palestinian State. And finally, it’s time to end our problems with visas.”

During his visit to the United States, His Beatitude Fouad Twal will be accompanied by Father Emile Salaita, President of Latin Patriarchate ECC Court, located in Jerusalem. While in Michigan, Patriarch Twal will be meeting with Archbishop of Detroit Allen Vigneron, as well as Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim, of the Chaldean churches in North America and Canada.

Twal was born in Madaba, Jordan and became a priest in June 1966. 

For more detailed information on the visit and reception, please contact William Salaita at 734.358.0144 or Terry Ahwal at 734.306.7474.