Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has named Fr. Dr. Jihad Shweihat as acting Latin Patriarchal vicar for Jordan, until the time when a new bishop is appointed to succeed Bishop Jamal D'aibes, who was named by Pope Francis as head of the dioceses of Djibouti and Somalia.

In his pastoral letter, Patriarch Pizzaballa said: “After His Holiness Pope Francis decided to name Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan His Eminence Bishop Jamal D'aibes as head of the dioceses of Djibouti and Somalia, it became incumbent to appoint a priest to replace him in serving the Church in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan pending the appointment of a new bishop.”

He added: “Given his long service in the Church in Jordan, and his profound knowledge of its needs and aspirations, we have appointed Fr. Jihad Shweihat to replace His Eminence Bishop Jamal, effective February 1, 2024, based on the fact that Fr. Jihad is delegated with the ecclesiastical powers necessary for his pastoral service, especially giving the Sacrament of Confirmation." At the end of his message, Patriarch Pizzaballa thanked Fr. Shweihat for accepting this mission, asking the Almighty God to grant him the wisdom and the strength to serve the people in dear Jordan.

The Catholic Center for Studies and Media and en.abouna.org website thank Bishop Jamal D'aibes for his benevolence and services conveyed to the Latin Patriarchal Vicariate in Jordan, and congratulate Fr. Shweihat on the confidence expressed in him by His Beatitude the Patriarch, wishing him wisdom and strength to serve the Church and the extended Jordanian society.