risu.org.ua - Father David Nazar, Ukrainian-Canadian Jesuit, has been named rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. Archbishop Terry Prendergast (SJ) reports that on his Twitter https://twitter.com/archterentius/status/636587077929451520

David Nazar is Superior of the Jesuits in Ukraine and a former provincial superior of the English Canadian Jesuits.

Fr Nazar confirmed that appointment to RISU but official web page of Pontificio Istituto Orientale hasn't published news yet.

In exclusive commentary to RISU Fr David Nazar said: "I gladly accepted this appointment, this new service is very interesting for me. This is important work for the good of the Church and, in particular, for the Oriental Churches. Today we have conflicts in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, and military action in Ukraine. Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the largest Eastern Catholic Church. So the Church should rethink its mission in these countries and the Pontifical Oriental Institute, as an important institution, is an important element in this process".

David Nazar was born in Canada in the family of Ukrainian immigrants. He worked as a missionary with the native Canadians. For six years he was the Provincial of the English Province of Canada. In 2003 he began his ministry in the Ukraine, led Jesuits in Ukraine and the Jesuit Refugee center in Lviv.