Apostolic Exarch of Venezuela (Melkite Greek)
Fr. Joseph Khawam, B.A., was born in Aleppo, Syria, on 14 April 1968. He entered the Basilian Aleppine order of the Greek-Melkites in 1987; he then studied philosophy and theology in Rome, at the Pontifical Saint Anselm University; he gave his solemn vows on 5 August 1995 and on 16 December of the same year he was ordained a priest. He subsequently held the role of rector of the minor seminary of his Order, pastor of Kib-Elias and rector of Notre-Dame-de-Zahle church. He was appointed secretary of the eparchial presbyteral council of Zahle and member of the eparchial committee for vocations. In 2007 he was appointed Superior of the Convent of the Most Holy Saviour in Sarba and, from 2011 until today, he was Superior of the Convent of Saint George in Bmakine, Souk El-Gharb. In the meantime, from 2011 to 2015, he served as assistant general of his Order. In addition to Arabic, he speaks French and Italian.