SW News: A Franciscan priest who refused to abandon his believers during the onslaught of Islamist militants in Syria has been consecrated as the new Apostolic Vicar of the Latins in Aleppo. It was on Sunday that Bishop-elect Hanna Jallouf OFM was given episcopal consecration.

The ceremony was attended by the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches Cardinal-elect Claudio Gugerotti, Apostolic Nuncio to Syria Cardinal Mario Zenari and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Cardinal-elect Pierbattista Pizzaballa. Also in attendance were the believers from Knaye where the bishop was serving as vicar for more than two decades and the Latins of Aleppo. Various bishops from other Oriental Churches and Orthodox Churches took part in the consecration.

Bishop Jallouf had been serving as the parish priest of Kanya in Idlib which is still held by the Islamists. In spite of the oppression unleashed by jihadists, he refused to leave his flock.

Preaching the homily during the ceremony, Cardinal-elect Gugerotti said he recognized the new bishop’s faith, perseverance and closeness to his faithful. "Dear Fr. Hanna it is for these people, for these concrete faces, that you are ordained bishop today. You have shown yourself to be a good father, tender, but also strong, if necessary. You did not leave your flock alone, but until today you wanted to stay with them, even when this put your life in danger,” he said.

After being named as Apostolic Vicar in July, Fr Jallouf said in an interview that his mission was to joyfully dedicate himself to sustaining a war-torn community still reeling from the destruction wreaked by the devastating tremors in February. During the time of the disaster, he sought earnest efforts for peace and reiterated the need to do everything for the greater glory of God and for the good of the Church.

Muslim insurgents in Idlib oppress Christians whose lives are also in peril. In 2014, Fr Jallouf was kidnapped by Al Nusra militants and was held in captivity. But that episode did not deter him from continuing his pastoral work. The conflict in the region has led to a steady decline in the number of Christian believers. From 10,000 the number has dipped to a trifle 600. This has forced almost all priests to leave except for the Franciscan friar who is now the new bishop.