As of January 5, 2026: Rector of Saint Joseph University of Beirut

Born: March 30, 1962, in Vannes (Morbihan), France

Nationality: French

Formation in the Society of Jesus

• 2001: Final vows in the Society of Jesus
• 1996: Ordination to the priesthood by Msgr. Antoine Audo, Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo
• 1994-1996: Second cycle of theological studies at Facultés Loyola Paris (formerly Centre Sèvres)
• 1992-1994:
  • Regency (a stage in Jesuit formation) in Lebanon
  • Teaching and research activities at the Center for Modern Arab Research (CEMAM) of the Saint Joseph University of Beirut
  • Pastoral work: spiritual advisor to the Eucharistic Youth Movement at Collège des Sœurs des Saints-Cœurs - Bauchrieh
• 1988-1992: First cycle of studies in philosophy and theology at Facultés Loyola Paris (formerly Centre Sèvres)
• 1986-1988: Novitiate in Lyon

Missions and Responsibilities within the Society of Jesus

2024-2025: Vice-Rector of the Saint Joseph University of Beirut.
Delegate of the Rector for Human Resources
2017-2023: Provincial Superior of the Jesuits of French-speaking Western Europe
2015-2017: Rector of Facultés Loyola Paris (formerly Centre Sèvres)
2012: Procurator at the Congregation of Procurators, Nairobi (July 2012)
2008-2014: Superior of the Saint Ignatius Jesuit Community, Centre Sèvres, Paris
2007-2014: Chaplain of Saint Ignatius Church, Paris
2003-2007: Editor-in-Chief of Croire Aujourd’hui, Bayard Group
Member of the Editorial Board of Études
1994-2003: Editor at the Jesuit journal Croire Aujourd’hui
1990-1992: Almoner of École supérieure de gestion (ESG), Paris

Teaching and Academic Career

• 2025 – present:
  In addition to his responsibilities as Rector, Prof. François Boëdec, SJ serves as an instructor in the Department of History and International Relations at the Faculty of Humanities Ramez G. Chagoury, Saint Joseph University of Beirut (Head of Department: Mr. Christian Taoutel).
  Courses taught: “The Meaning of History in International Relations,” “The Political Stakes of Controlling Water Resources in the Middle East”
• January - June 2024:
  Sabbatical leave at Georgetown University
  Affiliated Researcher
• 2015-2017
  Rector of Facultés Loyola Paris (formerly Centre Sèvres)
• 2015
  Assistant Professor in Political Science – Faculty of Philosophy, Facultés Loyola Paris (formerly Centre Sèvres)
• September - December 2014:
  Research Fellow at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), University of London
• 2007-2014 and 2015-2017
  Director of the Department of Public Ethics and International Perspectives, Facultés Loyola Paris (formerly Centre Sèvres)
  Courses taught: “The Political Stakes of Globalization,” “Does World History Have Meaning? A Framework for Understanding International Issues,” etc.
• 2003-2011
  Visiting Professor, course: “The Political Stakes of Globalization” (Bachelor’s level) - Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences (FASSE), Institut catholique de Paris. (Dean: Prof. François Mabille, then Prof. Sylvie Bukhari de Ponthual)
• 2003-2017
  Visiting professor (biennial appointment), course: “The Political Stakes of Controlling Water Resources in the Middle East” - Department of History - International Relations at the Faculty of Humanities Ramez G. Chagoury. (Dean: Prof. Christine Babikian Assaf – Head of Department: Prof. Carla Eddé)
• 1992-1994
  - Instructor in Business Law, 1st year, IUT, CST, Saint Joseph University of Beirut (Director: Mrs. Mireille Mounsef- Abboud). - Member of the USJ CEMAM research team (Director: Fr. John Donohue, SJ).

Education

• 2002: PhD in Political Science - Department of Political Science - Paris 1 Panthéon - Sorbonne University. PhD dissertation defended on March 12, 2002: « Conflits frontaliers et partage de l’eau. L’enjeu politique du contrôle des ressources hydrauliques entre le Liban, la Syrie et Israël. » (Border Conflicts and Water Sharing: The Political Stakes of Controlling Water Resources Between Lebanon, Syria, and Israel)
  Thesis Director: Prof. Charles Zorgbibe (Members of the jury included: Mr. Wajdi Najem, Vice-Rector of Saint Joseph University of Beirut, and Prof. Joseph Maïla)
  Very Honorable Mention with Jury Praises (cf. General Catalog of Dissertations of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University 2000-2009: https://www.academia.edu/33536498/THESES_2000 , p. 61.)
• 1998: Canonical Licentiate in Theology (equivalent to a Master’s degree) - Facultés Loyola Paris (formerly Centre Sèvres)
• 1997: Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in Political Science – Class Valedictorian Department of Political Science - Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University
• 1992: Canonical Baccalaureate in Philosophy (equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree) - Facultés Loyola Paris (formerly Centre Sèvres)
• 1986: Maîtrise in Public Law, concentration: European Law - Faculté des Sciences juridiques de Rennes
• Baccalaureate: Collège saint François-Xavier, Vannes, France

Ties with Lebanon and the Saint Joseph University of Beirut

• 2024-2025: Vice-Rector of the Saint Joseph University of Beirut.
  Delegate of the Rector for Human Resources
• 2022-2024: Member of the Board of Trustees of the Saint Joseph University of Beirut
• 2020: Rapporteur and member of doctoral jury of the EDBA (Executive Doctorate in Business Administration), a joint program between USJ and Université Paris Dauphine-PSL, dissertation of Dr. Fouad Maroun, then Secretary-General of USJ.
• 2003-2017: Visiting professor (biennial appointment), course: “The Political Stakes of Controlling Water Resources in the Middle East” - Department of History - International Relations at the Faculty of Humanities Ramez G. Chagoury. (Dean: Prof. Christine Babikian Assaf – Head of Department: Prof. Carla Eddé).
• 1998-present: President of the USJ Paris Administrative Office Association. (Vice-President: Prof. Salim Daccache, SJ, Rector; Director: Ms. Gassia Artin)
• 1992-1994: Regency (a stage in Jesuit formation) in Lebanon:
  • Instructor in Business Law, 1st year, IUT, CST, Saint Joseph University of Beirut (Director: Mrs. Mireille Mounsef- Abboud).
  • Member of the USJ CEMAM research team (Director: Fr. John Donohue, SJ).
  • Spiritual advisor to the Eucharistic Youth Movement - Collège des Sœurs des Saints-Cœurs - Bauchrieh
• 1990: First stay in Lebanon (during the summer). Youth camp counselor for young people from Aïn El Remmaneh, organized by the Social Activities Committee (CAS) of Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour

Some Publications

Books

• Comme un long Samedi saint – Libres méditations sur l’Espérance, Éditions Cerf - Loyola, October 2025, 336 pp.
• Les chrétiens dans le débat public, (collective work), (chapter: « Chrétiens dans la société, comment parler ? »), Éditions des Facultés jésuites de Paris, 2014, 164 pp.
• Pour l’éducation et pour l’école, des catholiques s’engagent, (collective work edited by Msgr. Dagens), Éditions Odile Jacob, Paris, 2007, 304 pp.
• Entre violence et paix: la voix des religions (collective work), (chapter: « Que penser de la thèse du choc des civilisations, des religions et des cultures ? »), Éditions des Facultés jésuites de Paris, 2005, Paris, 160 pp. (also translated into Spanish)
• L’Évangile social, guide pour une lecture des encycliques sociales (with Henri Madelin), Bayard Éditions - Centurion, 1999, Paris, 154 pp.

Articles

A selection of academic-level articles related to the Middle East, with a particular focus on hydropolitical issues:
• « Una constitución política al servicio de un contrato social: la situación francesa », Xipe Totek, Revista trimestral del Departemento de Filosofia y Humanidades ITESO (Mexico), Vol. XXVI-I, n° 101, March 2017, pp. 57-83.
• «المياه في الازمات السياسية في الشرق الاوسط », Al-Machriq, January - June 2016, pp. 12-32.
• « L’eau dans les crises politiques moyen-orientales », Les Cahiers de l’Orient, n° 120, 2015/4, pp. 111-115.
• « L’enjeu politique du contrôle de l’eau au Moyen-Orient », Défense et Stratégie, n°27, 3rd Quarter 2009, pp. 15-28.
• « Chrétiens d’Orient, doutes et angoisses », Études, November 2006, pp. 496-506.
• « L’enjeu politique du contrôle de l’eau au Proche-Orient », Dossier « La Valeur de l’or bleu », Le Journal de la paix, n°489, October 2005, pp. 38-44.
• « L’enjeu politique du contrôle de l’eau au Moyen-Orient », Lettre aux Communautés (Mission de France), n°230, May-June 2005, pp. 39-44.
• « L’eau, un enjeu avant tout politique », Le Mensuel de l’Université, n°12, January 2004, pp. 23-25.
• « Une approche politique du contrôle de l’eau au Moyen-Orient », Afrique contemporaine, n°205, 2003/1, pp. 77-98.
• « L’eau touche profondément à l’identité du Liban », La Croix, October 16, 2002.
• « La guerre de l’eau n’aura pas lieu », Responsables, n°337, July/August 2002, pp. 15-18.
• « La guerre de l’eau aura-t-elle lieu ? », Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace, June 30, 2002, p. 9.
• « Les guerres de l’eau au Moyen-Orient », Études, January 1995, pp. 5-14.
• «مشاكل المياه في الشرق الاوسط », Al-Machriq, January-June 1994, pp. 9-29.
• « Les guerres de l’eau au Moyen-Orient », Center for Modern Arab Research (CEMAM – Saint Joseph University of Beirut), March 1994, p. 26.