In the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem, within the convent of San Salvatore, stands the Infirmary of the Custody of the Holy Land, a place of care and welcome dedicated to the elderly and sick friars of the Franciscan community. The Custody, present in the Holy Land since the 13th century with a mission of Christian witness and service to the Holy Places, has made the care of its most fragile brothers one of the concrete signs of its vocation of charity and fraternity.
The infirmary, located on the second floor of the ancient convent complex, was built in its current form in 1955 and radically renovated in 2009 to adapt to modern healthcare needs, with equipped spaces, an internal pharmacy and rooms dedicated to more intensive care. Today it hosts friars from all the regions of the Custody and guarantees medical and nursing assistance 24 hours a day, also thanks to the collaboration with Saint Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem and the valuable support of the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth.
On 11 February each year, the World Day of the Sick is celebrated, an occasion to renew commitment toward those who suffer and to value gestures of mercy and human solidarity toward the sick. It is in this spirit that the community of the convent of San Salvatore experienced a moment of reflection and witness within the Custodial Infirmary, where care, welcome and prayer are intertwined daily.
Fr. Jad Sara, ofm, Director of the Infirmary of the Custody of the Holy Land, repeatedly recalls the importance of "caring for our sick brother", a command that is rooted in Franciscan spirituality and in following Christ. In the Infirmary there are 15 beds available, currently occupied by eight elderly and frail friars, assisted with dedication by nursing staff, doctors and twelve nurses who alternate on regular shifts.
Although it does not have equipment comparable to that of a large hospital, the facility is equipped with basic tools for monitoring and care, including instruments for measuring blood pressure and two rooms designated for intensive care. Through the agreement with Saint Joseph Hospital, additional medical services and regular visits are also guaranteed.
The Christian faith permeates every gesture of assistance, the care of the sick does not concern only the body, but also involves the spirit and personal dignity. The day in the Infirmary begins with the celebration of Holy Mass in the morning and continues with the recitation of the Rosary in the afternoon, moments that help the elderly friars rediscover serenity, hope and a deep sense of communion. According to Fr. Jad, "prayer is the key to patience" and represents an indispensable support for those who experience the fragility of old age and suffering.
Caring for the sick and the suffering is, for the friars of the Custody, an act of concrete charity and a way to bear witness to the Kingdom of God on earth. In the daily encounter with their most vulnerable confreres, the words of Saint Francis and of the Gospel are relived, inviting them to go out to meet the other with love, without waiting. In this humble and free service, every gesture of assistance becomes a profound sign of compassion, fraternity and Christian witness.
