and 27,600 Greek Melkite Catholics in Jordan. The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is by far the largest Catholic church in Israe, Organization The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is in full communion with the Holy See (the Latin Catholic Pope of Rome and his Roman Congregation for the Eastern Churches), where the Patriarch is represented by his Procurator at Rome, but fully follows the traditions and customs of Byzantine Christianity. The traditional languages of worship are Arabic and Greek, but today, services are held in a variety of languages, depending on the country where the church is located. The Melkite Synod of Bishops, composed of all of the church's bishops, meets each year to consider administrative, theological and church-wide issues. The vast majority of the Melkite diocesan priests in the Middle East are married. Patriarchate The current Patriarch is Youssef Absi who was elected on 21 June 2017. The patriarchate is based in the Syrian capital Damascus, but it formally remains one of the Eastern Catholic Patriarchs claiming the apostolic succession to the Ancient see of Antioch, and has been permanently granted the styles of Titular Patriarch of Alexandria and Jerusalem, two other patriarchates with multiple Catholic succession. The patriarchate is administered by a permanent synod, which includes the Patriarch and four bishops, the ordinary tribunal of the patriarch for legal affairs, the patriarchal economos who serves as financial administrator, and a chancery. Current dioceses and similar jurisdictions In the Arab World and Africa, the church has dioceses in: Egypt, Sudan and South Sudan, where the Patriarch of Antioch has the style of Titular Patriarch of Alexandria: Melkite Catholic Territory Dependent on the Patriarch of Egypt, Sudan and South Sudan, administered by a Patriarchal Vicar or Protosyncellus, titular Archeparchy of Alexandria. The Holy Land, where the Patriarch of Antioch has the style of Titular Patriarch of Jerusalem: Israel: Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Akka (including Haifa, Nazareth and all Galilee) Palestinian territories: Melkite Catholic Territory Dependent on the Patriarch of Jerusalem (Trans) Jordan: Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Petra and Philadelphia in Amman and all Transjordan Iraq: Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Iraq Arabian Peninsula: Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Kuwait Lebanon: Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Baalbek Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Baniyas and Marjeyoun (suffragan of Tyre) Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut and Byblos (nominally Metropolitan) Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Sidon and Deir el-Kamar (suffragan