Paul Peter Meouchi

His Beatitude and Eminence
Moran Mor Paul Peter Meouchi
(بولس الثاني بطرس المعوشي)
Cardinal Patriarch of Antioch
Church Maronite Church
See Patriarch of Antioch
Elected May 25, 1955
Term ended January 11, 1975
Predecessor Anthony Peter Arida
Successor Anthony Peter Khoraish
Orders
Ordination December 7, 1917 (Priest)
Consecration December 8, 1934 (Bishop)
by Anthony Peter Arida
Created Cardinal February 22, 1965
by Pope Paul VI
Rank Patriarch
Personal details
Born April 1, 1894
Jezzine, Lebanon
Died January 11, 1975 (aged 80)
Bkerké, Lebanon

Moran Mor Paul II Peter Meouchi (April 1, 1894 – January 11, 1975), (or Boulos Boutros el-Meouchi, Meoushi, Arabic: بولس الثاني بطرس المعوشي) was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1955 until his death in 1975.

Life

Moran Mor Paul Peter Meouchi was born in Jezzine, 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.[1]

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.[2] He chose as episcopal motto Gloria Libani data est ei.[1]

Moran Mor 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.[3] On February 22, 1965 he was created Cardinal by Pope Paul VI, being the first Maronite to became cardinal.[4]

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.[3]

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 on YouTube

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Salvador Miranda. "Meouchi, Paul Pierre". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  2. "Pierre-Paul Cardinal Méouchi". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Domenico, Roy (2006). Encyclopedia of Modern Christian Politics. Westport: Greenwood Press. pp. 370–371. ISBN 978-0-313-32362-1.
  4. "The Maronite Patriarchs". Kobayat. Retrieved 23 January 2011.