Hilarion Capucci

Hilarion Capucci BA ( born March 2, 1922 in Aleppo ) is a Syrian Greek Catholic theologian, Bishop of the Melkite Patriarchate of Antioch and political activist.

Life

After the study of the Greek Catholic theology and liturgy in a seminary Capucci was ordained on July 20, 1947 Priest of the Order of Basilian of Aleppo. After almost two decades of pastoral activity for Melkite faithful he was inducted on July 30, 1965 Auxiliary Bishop of Melkitisches Patriarchate of Antioch in Damascus with the title of archbishop. At the same time the dignity of titular bishop of Caesarea in Palestine, the Melkites dei Greco - Melkiti he was awarded. On September 5 of the same year his consecration was performed by Bishop Maximos IV Sayegh. He was in his capacity as Bishop as Patriarchal Vicar, Patriarchal and Protosynkellos in Jerusalem. Later, he himself referred to as Alt- Patriarch of Jerusalem.

It supports the insistence of the inhabitants of Palestine to statehood. He also argues in his statements to the effect that the solidarity of Christians with their Muslim fellow citizens could defuse the impending struggle of the Abrahamic religions against each other because they connect the common great good of justice.

Political actions

In August 1974 Capucci was to smuggle in an attempt to firearms and explosives in Palestinian territory, was arrested by the Israeli military and then sentenced by a court to a twelve years' imprisonment. The intervention of the Holy See meant that he was released three years later from custody.

In the 1980s, Capucci was a member of the Christian Peace Conference. He worked at the VI. Allchristlichen Peace Convocation in 1985 in Prague and was elected to its committee to continue the work.

Capucci protested in 2003 against the Iraq war and wrote the foreword to a book of the U.S. Navy officer John Sharpe, in which he called for the condemnation of the Iraq war.

In February 2009, Capucci was aboard a Lebanese ship, should deliver the aid to the population of the Gaza Strip, bypassing the naval blockade imposed by Israel. The ship was applied by the Israeli navy and seized the shipment.

In May 2010, Capucci accompanied a convoy of the Free Gaza Movement, which was boarded by the Israeli Navy (Ship -to- Gaza incident ). Capucci was on board the ship Mavi Marmara, in which nine people died. He was first detained in prison in Beersheba, and then deported.