Born in Nazareth, March 19, 1933.  Elementary studies at the Frères School (Christian Schools) in Nazareth;
October 2, 1943: joins the Patriarchal Minor Seminary in Beit Jala.
October 1, 1948  Joins the Beit Jala Major Seminary – Philosophy and Theology ;
June 28, 1955: Ordained priest by H.B. Patriarch Alberto Gori at the Salesian Church, Nazareth;
August 12, 1955: Appointed Vicar in Madaba (Jordan).  Teacher of Arabic Language at the Seminary – Patriarchal Master of Ceremonies – pursues Arabic language courses at the Jesuit University of Beirut;
1965: Chaplain of JEC (Young Catholic Students) – resides at the Patriarchal seat in Jerusalem – appointed Director General of Patriarchate-run schools ;
1968-1975: Teacher of Arabic Language and Islamology in Diocese of Djibouti;
June 1, 1970: Starts a thesis in Arabic philology in Beirut;
August 14, 1971: Appointed Parish Priest of Christ the King in Misdar (Amman); Defends his Doctorate in Arabic Philology at Sorbonne ;
March 24, 1975: Principal of the National Secondary College in Amman;
1980: President of the University of Bethlehem (until 1988);
January 1, 1985: Appointed Canon of the Holy Sepulchre;
December 11, 1987: Appointed Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem;
December 28, 1987: Publication of his nomination, on Radio Vatican;
January 6, 1988: Consecrated Bishop in Rome by the Holy Father, John Paul II, in Rome ;
January 11, 1988: receives the pallium;
January 17, 1988: assumes his post;
1989: Pastoral Letter, Our Faith in the Holy Land
1990: Pastoral Letter, Call for Peace in Jerusalem;
1993: Pastoral Letter, Read the Bible in the Land of the Bible;
1997: Pastoral Letter, How to prepare ourselves to the Grand Jubilee of Year 2000
1998: Pastoral Letter, Search for Peace and follow it;
July 1999: President of “Pax Christi International”;
2000: President of the Diocesan Synod of Catholic Churches ;
March 20-26, 2000: Invites and welcomes the Holy Father, John Paul II in the Holy Land
President of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (AOCTS)
President of  the Conference of Latin Bishops in the Arab Regions (CELRA)
Member of the Council of the Catholic Patriarchs of the East (CPCO)
Member of the Council of Churches of the Middle East
Member of the Council of Religious Institutions in the Holy Land (2005)
Co-President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (2007)
November 6, 2006: Invested as Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour by the French Republic;
March 1, 2008: Pastoral Letter, The Moment of My Departure has come;
June 21, 2008: Thanksgiving Mass at Gethsemane and handing over of the Pastoral Cross to H.B. Fouad Twal.