Syria: Pope confirms election of new Archbishop of Homs

The Holy Father has given his consent to the election of Archbishop Abdo Arbach, BC, to the Greek Melkite Metropolitan Archdiocese Archdiocese of Homs, Hama, and Yabroud in Syria, Vatican Radio reports.

Archbishop Arbach was born in Yabroud on 28 June, 1952. He made his final vows in the Basilian Chouerite Order of Saint John the Baptist in 1977, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1980.

On 17 October, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Apostolic Exarch for the Greek Melkite faithful residing in Argentina.

Archbishop Arbach's election happened at the Greek Melkite Catholic Synod of the Church, which is led by Greek Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Gregory III Laham.

At the opening of the Synod on 18 June, Patriarch Laham expressed his solidarity with the Syrian people, calling them "tenacious in their quest for life, dignity and unity of their country"

He also called for the reform of the country, which he said must happen "in all fields of the political, social, cultural and administrative reality, through the efforts of all the Syrians: the government, political parties, intellectuals, constructive opposition".