Passing of Bishop Roland Abou Jaoudeh

Bishop Roland Abou Jaoudeh passed away on Thursday, 2 May 2019, at the age of 89, at Notre Dame des Secours hospital in Jbeil, where he had been in a coma for six months.

Born in Jal el-Dib, on 7 September 1930, Roland Abou Jaoudeh was ordained a priest on 25 April 1959. On 12 July 1975, at the age of 44, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Antioch and Titular Bishop of Arca in Phoenicia for the Maronites. He was ordained on 23 August 1975, by Maronite Patriarch Anthony Peter Khoraiche. Bishop Abou Jaoudeh served as a curial bishop for patriarchs Khoraiche, Sfeir, and Rai until his retirement in 2011.   

The Divine Liturgy for the Burial of the Christian Faithful was celebrated on 6 May 2019, at the Maronite Patriarchal Residence in Bkerke. His Beatitude Bechara Peter Cardinal Rai celebrated the Divine Liturgy with bishops, clergy, government officials, and representatives of the communities in attendance.  

His Excellency Joseph Spiteri, apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, represented Pope Francis at the ceremony. After the liturgy, the nuncio expressed condolences of the Holy Father to the Patriarch, bishops, clergy, and faithful of the Maronite Church, especially the family of the late Bishop Roland.

May God gift rest to His servant of the Altar.