Archbishop Fouad Boutros Twal, Coadjutor Archbishop of Jerusalem, appointed President of Bethlehem University.
Brother Daniel Casey, FSC, Vice Chancellor, announced today that the Holy See has appointed Archbishop Fouad Twal, Coadjutor Archbishop of Jerusalem, President of Bethlehem University. In his role as President of Bethlehem University, Archbishop Twal will promote the University and preside at various official and public functions.
In speaking of the appointment of Archbishop Twal, Brother Daniel said, “Bethlehem University is blest to have Archbishop Fouad Twal appointed to the position of President; his knowledge and experience both in Palestine and internationally will be of great benefit to Bethlehem University. All at Bethlehem University wish our new President all of God’s blessings as he assumes this important responsibility.”
Archbishop Fouad Twal was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in September 2005. Prior to this appointment, he served as Archbishop of Tunisia, carried out diplomatic service in the Apostolic Nunciatures
of Honduras, Germany and Peru, and in the Council of Political Affairs for the State Secretariat of the Vatican. Msgr. Twal also served the Latin Patriarchate Parishes in Ramallah, Palestine, in Irbed and Amman, Jordan. He completed his seminary studies at the Latin Patriarchal Seminary in Beit Jala, began his studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of the Lateran in Rome, and in 1974 was admitted to the Ecclesiastical Pontifical Academy, receiving the licentiate in Canon Law in 1975.
Other priests from the Latin Patriarchate who have previously served in the role of President of Bethlehem University include Patriarch Michel Sabbah while he was a parish priest in Jordan and the late Monsignor Raouf Najjar from Nazareth.
An official ceremony to welcome Archbishop Twal will be held at Bethlehem University in May 2006.
