Fr Paul Collin passed away in the night from Thursday 16 to Friday 17 of April 2020, may he rest in peace


He was the parish priest of the Hebrew speaking community in Beersheva for twenty years, while being also the Chaldean Exarch of Jerusalem for several years

Fr Paul Collin was born in Saint Malo, France, in 1938. He got ordained priest in Teheran, in 1970, in a country he loved particularly. He served there the Chaldean church up to 1985.


Following the Iranian revolution, he left Iran, went back to France, then arrived to Jerusalem in 1987. From 1991 to end 2011 he was responsible for the Hebrew speaking catholic parish in Beersheva.

From 1990 he became also Patriarchal Vicar (then Patriarchal Exarch) of Jerusalem for the Chaldean Church. As such, he was a member of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land.


Fr Paul had a deep spirituality. He was both intellectual and humble, and a very discrete person. His wisdom was precious and appreciated by many of those who knew him.

Fr Paul returned to France in May 2019. In his last months he suffered from a cancer of the skin, and he passed away in the night from Thursday 16 to Friday 17 of April 2020. May he rest in peace. He will remain present in our hearts.

His funeral will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 22, in France.

Support Us Contact Us Vatican News in Hebrew Mass in Hebrew Child Safeguarding Policy


© 2020 Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel