On Monday, July 21, the Custody of the Holy Land joyfully welcomed its new Custos, Br. Francesco Ielpo. In accordance with tradition, the solemn entrance began at Jaffa Gate, through which the Custos entered the Old City of Jerusalem. Awaiting him were the Franciscan friars, representatives of the local Churches, and numerous diplomatic authorities from various countries.
The procession, led by uniformed Kawas—following the custom shared among the Churches of Jerusalem—made its way to the Church of Saint Saviour. Opening the procession were the friars of the Custody, followed by the new Custos, the Vicar Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, and the General Visitor, Br. Alojzy Sławomir Warot. The solemn hymn Te Deum laudámus accompanied the march.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Saint Saviour convent, Br. Francesco was received by the Vicar of the fraternity, Br. Piermarco Luciano, who vested him with the stole and cross. After blessing those present with holy water, the new Custos entered the church.
In front of the assembly, the General Visitor read the decree of appointment issued by the Minister General of the Order, Fr. Massimo Fusarelli. The Custos then approached the altar and took the oath of office, placing his hand on the Gospel. Finally, he received the seal of the Custody from Br. Francesco Patton, formally marking the handover of responsibility.
In his first address as Custos, Fr. Francesco Ielpo expressed gratitude to the civil and diplomatic authorities present, asking for their prayerful support. Turning to his fellow friars of the Custody, he shared a profound reflection on vocation:
"Life is vocation. The Lord Jesus never stops calling us. In every moment and in every circumstance of our lives, the Master comes to meet us, calling us to what is unexpected and humanly impossible."
The new Custos also offered a word about the dramatic situation currently affecting the Holy Land, pointing to faith as the only sure foundation amid crisis:
"In the storm that the Holy Land is currently going through, I feel the need to keep my gaze fixed on Jesus. Not an abstract Jesus, but the Jesus I can recognize in the sacraments and in the faces of so many brothers and sisters in the Holy Land who bear the marks of the poor and crucified Christ."
He concluded with a gesture of fraternal communion: "Dear brothers, the embrace we will share in a few moments is the most beautiful sign of our fraternity."
Following his address, in keeping with tradition, the new Custos embraced each of the friars present one by one, greeting them personally in a gesture of closeness and brotherhood.
The new Custos then went to the sacristy to put on his liturgical robes and preside, together with the community, over the celebration of Solemn Vespers.
"To ask for the grace to know what my mission is, and once I know it, to be able to carry it out": with these words, Brother Francis Ielpo expressed the profound desire that accompanies the beginning of his service.
"I wish to be brother," he added, "and father to all. None of us can be a father if we have not had the experience of being a son."
With this spirit of entrustment and service, Br. Francis begins his mandate as the new Custos with faith and courage, accompanied in prayer by the entire Franciscan community of the Holy Land.
Lucia Borgato
