A member of the Society of Jesus, he is trained as a jurist and holds a PhD in Political Science from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. He has long been a careful observer of the challenges shaping modern democratic debate, as well as the evolution of international relations, particularly in the Middle East. He is especially recognized for his research on the political dimensions of water resource control in the region. His career has been marked by major leadership roles within Jesuit higher education and the Society of Jesus. He has served as Rector of Facultés Loyola Paris, Provincial Superior of the Jesuits of French-speaking Western Europe, and member of the Board of Trustees of Saint Joseph University of Beirut. From 2024 to January 2026, he served as Vice-Rector of the University and Delegate of the Rector for Human Resources.

Born in Bouar (Keserwan) in 1950, he became a Jesuit in 1975 and was ordained a priest in 1983. He holds two PhDs, one in Philosophy from Sorbonne and the other in Educational Sciences from Strasbourg. Since 1984, he has been Deputy Director of Dar al-Machreq and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Al-Machriq. He has taught at various USJ institutions since 1985, served as Rector of Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour from 1991 to 2008, and Dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies from 2008 to 2012, before becoming Rector of the University. He also serves as Director of the Jesuit college in Taanayel, is a member of the Management Committee for the Jesuit School Network in the Beqaa, and Vice-Chairman of the Committee of the Bible Society for Lebanon and Syria. He is also President of the Universities Association of Lebanon and of the Regional Conference of Rectors (C2R) of the Middle East. Among his publications are “Pluralisme, vivre-ensemble et citoyenneté au Liban : le salut vient-il de l’école ?” (L’Harmattan and PUSJ, 2013) and “Le problème de la Création du monde dans le Kalam musulman de Abu Mansur al Maturidi” (USJ, 2009).

Born in Lyon in 1936, he became a Jesuit in 1956. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in French-Latin-Greek in Paris in 1959, then studied philosophy and theology in Chantilly and Lyon before specializing in sociology, in which he completed his PhD. He permanently settled in Lebanon in 1969. After directing the journal Travaux et Jours, he joined the newly founded Faculty of Humanities Ramez G. Chagoury, where he took on various academic and administrative roles before becoming Dean from 1995 to 2000. He then served as Vice-Rector for Human Resources from 2000 to 2003, Rector of the University, and later Manager of Société Recherche et Développement. His publications particularly focused on documenting the Lebanese war, including “Chronique d’une guerre : le Liban, 1975-1977” (Desclée, 1978); “D’un plan de sécurité à l’autre : Liban”; and “Le temps des milices : Liban.”

Born in Beirut in 1928, he became a Jesuit in 1946. In 1961, he obtained a PhD in Humanities. From 1977 to 1992, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities Ramez G. Chagoury, which he had helped to establish, before becoming Rector of the University from 1995 to 2003. Between 1993 and 1999, he coordinated the Cultures, Languages, and Development network of AUPELF/UREF. He was visiting professor in many institutions, including the Collège de France, and received the “Grand Prix du rayonnement de la langue française” from the Académie Française. He directed the USJ Publications (PUSJ) and held the Chair Louis D. Institut de France of Intercultural Anthropology. He authored numerous works, including “Les Mbyas Guaranis : Le Temps de la Reconnaissance” (PUSJ, 2012) and “De l’identité et du sens : La mondialisation de l’angoisse identitaire et sa signification plurielle” (Perrin-PUSJ, 2009).

Born on February 25, 1922, in Bourg-en-Bresse (France), Jean Ducruet joined the novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Mongré in November 1942 at the age of twenty. From 1943 to 1945, he was conscripted for compulsory labor service in Germany. He resumed his studies afterward, and between 1948 and 1950 he studied Arabic in Bikfaya. Ordained a priest in Lyon on July 31, 1956, he took his final vows in Vanves on August 15, 1960. That same year, he moved to Lebanon. From 1963 to 1975, he was professor of economics and later Chancellor of the Faculty of Law and Economics of the Saint Joseph University of Beirut. From 1975 to 1995, he served as Rector of the University.

Born in Beirut, Jesuit since 1932 and priest since 1944, he served as Director of the Oriental Seminary from 1942 to 1945 and again from 1960 to 1967, professor of dogmatic theology at USJ from 1948 to 1971, Director of the Catholic Printing Press from 1952 to 1955, Rector of Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour from 1955 to 1960, Prefect of Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Theology at USJ, Superior of the Jesuits in Lebanon from 1971 to 1977, Rector of the University, Superior in Bikfaya from 1977 to 1980, Director of the Jesuit schools in the Beqaa, and responsible for the management of the Taanayel estate in 1980.

Born in Bikfaya, Jesuit since 1935 and priest since 1945, he was Prefect of Arabic Studies at the Petit Séminaire of Ghazir before becoming its Rector. He was the first Provincial of the newly created Vice-Province of the Near East in 1957, then served as Rector of USJ, later as Regional Superior of the Society of Jesus in Lebanon from 1968 to 1972, Superior of the Jamhour community from 1977 to 1983, and Superior in Bikfaya from 1983 to 1989.

Born in Lyon, Jesuit since 1918 and priest since 1933, he spent nearly all his apostolic life in Lebanon. He taught literature at Collège Saint-Joseph before becoming Prefect there from 1934 to 1945. He later served as Director of the Cercle de la Jeunesse Catholique of Beirut from 1945 to 1948, Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Medicine from 1948 to 1953, Chancellor of the School of Engineering from 1953 to 1965 and again from 1966 to 1974, Rector of the University, and Procurator of Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour until he lost his life to the war.

A Frenchman, Jesuit since 1908 and priest since 1923, he spent time in the Orient between 1951 and 1961. Rector of the theologate from 1930 to 1937 and again from 1943 to 1949, he was sent to Lebanon as Rector of both the University and the College until 1953. Under his leadership, the position of Rector of USJ took on greater academic weight and gained visibility. He later served as spiritual father at Collége Notre-Dame de Jamhour from 1958 to 1961 before being recalled to France.

Born in Marseille, Jesuit since 1917 and priest since 1931, he served as Regent in Beirut from 1921 to 1924. He studied Arabic in Bikfaya from 1924 to 1925. He directed the Cercle de la Jeunesse Catholique of Aleppo from 1932 to 1934 and again from 1935 to 1945, and became Superior of the Residence in 1937 before being named Rector of the University. While Rector, he also served as Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Aleppo from 1947 to 1949.

Born in Grenoble, he joined the Society of Jesus in 1920 and was ordained a priest in 1935. He served as Rector of the University and later as Provincial from 1945 to 1951. He oversaw the construction of Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour, and went on to be Superior in Beirut, Taanayel, Jamhour, and Saint-Grégoire. He received several honors: the Legion of Honor, the National Order of the Cedar, and the Polish Cross of Merit.

A native of Savoy, Jesuit since 1903 and priest since 1917, he first came to Beirut as a scholastic regent from 1910 to 1913 and settled there permanently in 1922. He assumed several key roles, including Director of the Oriental Seminary from 1925 to 1947, Superior of the Mission from 1933 to 1936, and Rector of the University. Later, he became spiritual father at the Petit Séminaire of Ghazir from 1947 to 1960. Much of his life was devoted to the training of priests, particularly for Lebanon and Syria. He eventually passed away in Beirut.

A Frenchman and Jesuit since 1895, he spent a total of eight years in the Near East. Between 1904 and 1906, he taught humanities and later rhetoric at the College of Alexandria. From 1930 to 1936, he served as Rector of the University in Beirut. He also served as Rector of the theologate from 1919 to 1924, Provincial of Lyon from 1924 to 1930, and Master of Novices from 1936 to 1942. He eventually passed away in Annecy.

Born in Seine-et-Marne, he spent his youth in Algeria. A Jesuit since 1907 and a priest since 1923, he was Director of the Cercle de la Jeunesse Catholique of Beirut from 1925 to 1927, then Rector of the Saint Joseph University of Beirut. He later served as Provincial of Lyon between 1930 and 1936, Superior of the Mission in Syria from 1936 to 1937, of the Mission in the Near East from 1937 to 1939, of the Vice-Province of the Near East between 1939 and 1949, and as Rector of the College of Cairo from 1945 to 1947, where he passed away.

A Frenchman, Jesuit since 1888, and priest since 1897, he was Prefect of the College of Alexandria from 1903 to 1905 and Provincial of Lyon between 1912 and 1918. He contributed to the foundation of the Schools of Law and Engineering. Superior of the Mission from 1918 to 1921 and from 1927 to 1933, he also served as Rector of the University, then as Superior and Chancellor of the Faculty of Medicine for many years (1927-1942). He also founded the Alawite Mission. He spent the final years of his life in Cairo, where he passed away.

A Frenchman, Jesuit since 1866, he spent a total of eighteen years in the Orient. Between 1884 and 1890, he served as Vice-Rector of the College of Cairo and Director of the Coptic Seminary. From 1890 to 1895, he was Vice-Rector and Master of Novices in Ghazir, before becoming Rector of the College of Alexandria from 1895 to 1898. He became Rector of USJ in August 1910 but was expelled by the Ottoman authorities in November 1914.

A Frenchman, Jesuit since 1878, he spent only a few years in the Near East, where he was Rector of the University and Chancellor of the new Oriental Faculty. He also drafted the new regulations of The Oriental Library. Upon his return to France, he notably devoted himself to organizing spiritual retreats for clergy. He passed away in Lyon.

A Frenchman, Jesuit since 1873, and priest since 1882, he spent fifteen years in the Near East, of which eleven in Ghazir, where he held various roles. He served as Prefect of Studies and Professor at the Juvénat between 1890 and 1894, then as Rector and Master of Novices from 1895 to 1901 before becoming Rector of the University. He spent his final years in Algeria.

A Swiss national, Jesuit since 1868, he was ordained a priest in 1882. In addition to serving three terms as Rector of the Saint Joseph University of Beirut, he was Prefect of the College of Beirut from 1885 to 1886, Rector of the College of Alexandria between 1887 and 1895, Superior of the Mission from 1901 to 1907, and of Taanayel from 1925 to 1929, where he passed away. The pinnacle of his achievements was his contribution to the Faculty of Medicine, where he served as Chancellor from 1895 to 1913 and again from 1921 to 1923. He oversaw the construction of its new campus on Damascus Road and was behind the construction of Hôtel-Dieu de France.

Born in Alexandria to a Maronite family originally from Lebanon, he studied in France and at the Seminary of Ghazir. A Jesuit since 1866 and a priest since 1881, he was Professor and Prefect of Arabic and classical studies in Alexandria and Beirut. He became the first “Oriental” Rector of the University before serving as Rector of the College of Cairo and Superior of the Residence in Aleppo. He was highly respected for his eloquence in Arabic, French, and English.

A French national, a Jesuit since 1852, and a priest since 1865, he was the spiritual director of the first White Fathers in Algeria between 1871 and 1875, which drew the attention of Msgr. Lavigerie. He spent only three years in the Orient as Rector of the University. He passed away in France in 1922.

Born in Avignon, he joined the Society of Jesus in 1862 and was ordained a priest in 1876. He settled in Beirut to study Arabic and became Rector in 1881, at the time when the Faculties of Theology and Medicine were being established. He later moved to Aleppo, then to Homs, where he continued his Arabic lessons and carried out various responsibilities. He distinguished himself by his devotion during the terrible cholera epidemic of 1891. He eventually passed away in Beirut.

Born in the Drôme region, a Jesuit since 1851, he learned Arabic during two stays in Algeria. He arrived in Beirut in 1861 and remained in the Orient until his passing. He contributed to the founding of the Damascus Residence in 1872. As Superior of the Mission in Syria (1876-1887), he was also one of the founders of the Mission in Egypt, with its seminary for the training of clergy, the two colleges of Cairo and Alexandria, and the Mission in Armenia. He also played an important role in the establishment of the USJ Faculty of Medicine.