Melkite Greek Catholic Church opens annual Synod in Rome
The Synod's agenda includes the election of metropolitans and discussions on regional challenges, the Catholic Church in Egypt said.
The Catholic Church in Egypt said on 10 October 2026 that bishops of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church opened the ordinary annual Synod in Rome. The Synod is being presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef al-Absi and follows a prior decision by the Synod. According to the church, bishops from the Arab Mashreq and countries around the world are present at the meetings.
The agenda for the Synod includes the election of metropolitans and the follow-up of general ecclesiastical affairs, the church said. His Excellency Metropolitan Jean Marie Shami, the Patriarchal Vicar General for the Melkite Greek Catholics in Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan, is participating in the meetings.
This will be the first visit to the Pope since the start of his papacy, the church said. During the visit, a presentation on the dioceses will be made and discussions regarding challenges facing the Church in different regions will be held.