The Conference of the Latin Bishops of the Arabic Regions (CELRA) (French: Conférence des Evêques Latins dans les Régions Arabes) is an episcopal conference of the Catholic Church which gathers the Latin Church bishops in the Arab States of the Middle East, North Africa, East Africa and Cyprus.
| Abbreviation | CELRA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1967 |
| Type | Non-Governmental organization |
Region served | Middle East, North Africa, East Africa and Cyprus |
Membership | Active Catholic bishops of the Middle East, North Africa, East Africa and Cyprus |
Vice - President | Pierbattista Pizzaballa |
Main organ | Conference |
History
editThe Conference was established on March 31, 1967[1] by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and its statutes were confirmed in 1989.[2]
Members and bodies
editThey are part of the Conference,[3] the titular bishops, emeritus, assistants and auxiliary staff of the dioceses following:
- Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus)
- Archdiocese of Baghdad (Iraq)
- Diocese of Djibouti (Djibouti)
- Diocese of Mogadishu (Somalia)
- Apostolic Vicariate of Aleppo (Syria)
- Apostolic Vicariate of Alexandria (Egypt)
- Apostolic Vicariate of Beirut (Lebanon)
- Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar)
- Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen)[4]
List of presidents
edit1965 - 1970: Alberto Gori
1970 - 1987: Giacomo Giuseppe Beltritti
1987 - 2008: Michel Sabbah
2008 - 2016: Fouad Twal
2016 - Present: Pierbattista Pizzaballa[5]
References
edit- ^ Conférence des Evêques Latins dans les Régions Arabes (C.E.L.R.A.) (Conference of the Latin Bishops of the Arabic Regions). GCatholic.org. Retrieved on 2016-12-23.
- ^ "StackPath". www.indcatholicnews.com. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
- ^ "CELRA - Conference of Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions". Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
- ^ Mares, Courtney. "Bishops propose Arab World Youth Day for Middle East Catholics - Middle East - International - News". Catholic Online. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
- ^ "Catholic.co.il". catholic.co.il. Retrieved 2021-10-17.