Al-Rahi Appointed Member of Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education

Pope Francis has named Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi as a member of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, state-run National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The Maronite Patriarchate's secretariat said al-Rahi was appointed on November 9, noting that he will occupy the post for a period of five years.

According to the secretariat, the Congregation's missions involve “spreading the principles of Catholic education and implementing them at Catholic schools, universities and theology institutes.”

It approves the establishment of universities, faculties, institutes and higher schools of study – either ecclesial or civil dependent on ecclesial persons – and schools and educational institutes depending on ecclesiastical authorities. .

Al-Rahi is also a member of the Vatican's Congregation for the Oriental Churches; Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura; Pontifical Council for Social Communications; and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

The announcement comes after media reports claimed that the patriarch intends to resign soon, which were strongly denied by al-Rahi who described them as “lies and fabrications.”

El-Sharq newspaper had reported Monday that the patriarch would resign to get the post of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.