Paul Peter Meouchi
Encyclopedia
Patriarch Cardinal Paul II Peter Meouchi (1894–1975), (or Boulos Boutros el-Meouchi, Meoushi) was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1955 until his death in 1975, and the first Maronite Cardinal
.
, Lebanon
on April 1, 1894. His studied at the College de la Sagesse and later in Rome in the College of the Propaganda and at the Pontifical Gregorian University
.
He was ordinated priest
in Rome on December 7, 1917 and served as secretary of the Maronite bishops of Saida
and of Tyre. After having attended a visitation of the bishop of Tyre in the United States in 1920, he remained in the United States till 1934, serving the Maronite communities particularly in Indiana
, Connecticut
and California
.
He was elected Maronite bishop of Tyre in 1934 and consecrated bishop
on December 8, 1934 at Bkerké
by Patriarch Anthony Peter Arida
. He chose as episcopal motto
Gloria Libani data est ei.
Paul Peter Meouchi was elected patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites on May 25, 1955. He attended the Second Vatican Council
, 1962–1965, where he took a stand to defend the rights of Patriarchs to discourage the emigration of Christians from the Middle East. On February 22, 1965 he was created Cardinal
by Pope Paul VI
, being the first Maronite to became cardinal.
From a political point of view, his action as Patriarch of the Maronite was intended to promote the reconciliation among all the Lebanese, both Christians and Muslims. He was a supporter of the Arab nationalism
, thus standing in opposition to the pro-USA former president of Lebanon Camille Chamoun
.
He died on January 11, 1975 in the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate in Bkerké
, Lebanon, where he was buried.
Home Video of Patriarch Meouchi in Los Angeles 1962
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
.
Life
Paul Peter Meouchi was born in JezzineJezzine
Jezzine is a town in Lebanon, located from Sidon and south of Beirut. Surrounded by mountain peaks, pine forests, and at an average altitude of 950 m , it is the main summer resort and tourist destination of South Lebanon...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
on April 1, 1894. His studied at the College de la Sagesse and later in Rome in the College of the Propaganda and at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
.
He was ordinated priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
in Rome on December 7, 1917 and served as secretary of the Maronite bishops of Saida
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
and of Tyre. After having attended a visitation of the bishop of Tyre in the United States in 1920, he remained in the United States till 1934, serving the Maronite communities particularly in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
He was elected Maronite bishop of Tyre in 1934 and consecrated bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
on December 8, 1934 at Bkerké
Bkerké
Bkerké is the See of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate, located 650 m above the bay of Jounieh in Lebanon....
by Patriarch Anthony Peter Arida
Anthony Peter Arida
Anthony II Peter Arida was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1932 until his death in 1955.-Life:Anthony Peter Arida was born in Bsharri, Lebanon on February 2, 1863...
. He chose as episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
Gloria Libani data est ei.
Paul Peter Meouchi was elected patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites on May 25, 1955. He attended the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, 1962–1965, where he took a stand to defend the rights of Patriarchs to discourage the emigration of Christians from the Middle East. On February 22, 1965 he was created Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
, being the first Maronite to became cardinal.
From a political point of view, his action as Patriarch of the Maronite was intended to promote the reconciliation among all the Lebanese, both Christians and Muslims. He was a supporter of the Arab nationalism
Arab nationalism
Arab nationalism is a nationalist ideology celebrating the glories of Arab civilization, the language and literature of the Arabs, calling for rejuvenation and political union in the Arab world...
, thus standing in opposition to the pro-USA former president of Lebanon Camille Chamoun
Camille Chamoun
Camille Nimr Chamoun was President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958, and one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War ....
.
He died on January 11, 1975 in the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate in Bkerké
Bkerké
Bkerké is the See of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate, located 650 m above the bay of Jounieh in Lebanon....
, Lebanon, where he was buried.
Home Video of Patriarch Meouchi in Los Angeles 1962