First Roman Catholic patriarch from Palestine to retire

Jerusalem: The first Palestinian to hold the top Roman Catholic position in the Holy Land is stepping down.

Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah turned 75 on Wednesday, the traditional retirement age of church officials.

Sabbah was named patriarch by Pope John Paul II in 1987, becoming the first Palestinian to hold the position since the Crusades.

Throughout his tenure, Sabbah has been a vocal advocate for the Palestinian cause.

At the same time, he has been an outspoken critic of violence.

A church official says Sabbah will stay on the job at least through the upcoming Easter holiday.

In his final Easter address, made available by his office, Sabbah bemoaned the ongoing violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

Sabbah is expected to be succeeded by another Palestinian church leader, Archbishop Fuad Twal. Twal was born in a Christian Bedouin tribe in Jordan.