Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch for Maronites (Lebanon), was born on 15 May 1920 in Reyfoun in the Maronite Diocese of Sarba, Lebanon.

He was educated at the school in Mar-Abda Harharaya from 1933 to 1936.

He attended the Saint-Maron Seminary in Gahzir, Lebanon (1937-1939) for his secondary studies, and then the Major Seminary at St Joseph's University in Beirut (1940-1943).

He studied philosophy and theology at the theological faculty of St Joseph's University from 1944 to 1950.

He was ordained a priest on 7 May 1950, and appointed curate of the parish of Reyfoun and secretary of the Diocese of Damas, an office he held from 1950 to 1956. Also, from 1956 to 1961, he was secretary to the Maronite Patriarchate.

From 1951 to 1961 he taught literature and Arabic philosophy and translation at the College of the Marist Fathers in Jounieh.

Elected to the titular Church of Tarsus for Maronites, he was named Patriarchal Vicar General on 19 June 1961 and confirmed on 23 June. He was ordained Bishop on the following 16 July.

Appointed Patriarchal Administrator to Antoine Pierre Khoraiche, then Archbishop of Saida (1974-1975), he was subsequently named councillor of the Commission for the Revision of Canon Law in 1980.

In 1977 he was made representative of the president of the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon for Caritas-Lebanon, and in 1980 he was appointed spiritual advisor to the Order of Malta.

He was elected Patriarch on 19 April 1986 and took possession on 27 April 1986.

He has taken part in three General Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops between 1986 and 1994.

His works include Des sources de l'Evangile,1975; Des visages qui ne sont plus, vol. I, 1983; vol. II, 1984; Sunday Homilies, translated into various languages.

He is president of the Assembly of Patriarchs and Catholic Bishops in Lebanon and head of the Synod of the Maronite Church.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of 26 November 1994.

Member of:

Congregation for the Oriental Churches;

Special Council for Lebanon of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.

04:50 am | Archbishops Nienstedt and Chaput defend CCHD as criticisms continue

01:46 am | Holy Father reminds the hearing impaired they are also recipients of the Gospel

09:07 pm | CNN poll finds 61% of Americans oppose government-funded abortions

08:02 pm | USCCB: Senate health care bill 'morally unacceptable'

05:54 pm | Mexican expert: Don’t believe false 'end of world' Mayan prophecies

Bishops warn conflict in Gaza could spread to Lebanon

Young people eagerly anticipating arrival of Pope in Sydney for WYD

Cardinal Trujillo, President of Pontifical Council for the Family, passes away

Pope expresses condolences for former Lebanese Prime Minister