Archbishop Hilarion Capucci, a Greek Melkite cleric, dies at 94 after being described as an icon to Palestinians.

Hilarion Capucci, a Greek Melkite archbishop known as an “icon” to Palestinians, has died in Rome at the age of 94. Capucci, who served as the Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem since 1965, was arrested by Israel in 1974 and jailed for arms smuggling.

Capucci’s involvement in the Palestinian struggle was deeply rooted in his faith and activism. He was arrested while traveling between Beirut and occupied East Jerusalem in a car with Vatican diplomatic license plates. Israeli soldiers found rifles, pistols, ammunition, and explosives during a search of his Mercedes.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised Capucci for defending the rights of the Palestinian people. Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s executive committee, described him as a reminder of an era when priests were actively engaged in political struggles. She noted that the church is now more hesitant and cautious, with priests expressing solidarity through witness and advocacy rather than direct action.

Born in 1922 in Aleppo, then under French colonial rule, Capucci was deeply influenced by liberation theology. He lectured and wrote about the Palestinian cause and human rights abuses during the 1960s. He developed a close friendship with PLO leader Yasser Arafat and often compared Jesus to Palestinian resistance fighters.

Capucci’s activism extended beyond words. In 2008, he joined an aid flotilla seeking to break Israel’s siege of Gaza, despite being in his late eighties. His participation in the Mavi Marmara mission demonstrated his willingness to adapt to new forms of resistance, much like the Palestinians themselves.

Israel labeled Capucci a “terrorist priest” and charged him with contact with foreign agents and transporting illegal weapons. These were the most serious charges ever brought against a senior cleric by Israel. Capucci’s life and work reflect a commitment to justice and solidarity with the oppressed, echoing Micah 6:8, which calls for justice, mercy, and humble service.

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