After two years of extreme difficulty, Bethlehem returned today to experience Christmas in a joyful, festive and widely shared celebration. The 2025 celebrations marked a slow but meaningful rebirth for the city: first, with the solemn entrance of the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, who officially opened the path of Advent, then, on 6 December, with the traditional lighting of the tree in Manger Square, a moment that restored symbolic light to the heart of the city […]
A fragment of rock of the Grotto of the Annunciation of Nazareth – where according to Christian tradition the angel made the announcement to Mary and her “yes” to the design of God – was donated by the Custody of the Holy Land to the papal Basilica of St Mary of the Angels in Assisi. A relic for the Porziuncola On 25 March, the solemnity of the Annunciation and anniversary of when the first stone of the Basilica was laid […]
As is tradition, the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, brought Christmas greetings to the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches of Jerusalem, to rejoice together in the mystery of the birth of Jesus, which the Orthodox celebrate on January seven. The Custos, accompanied by some confreres of the Custody of the Holy Land, paid visits to the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate, the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate, to […]
Last 1 February, in the church of St Fortunatus’ convent, in Montefalco (Italy),the postulate house of the Custody of the Holy Land, the ostension of the relics of St Severus, joint patron saint of the city. The relics, preserved in a sarcophagus in the church’s chapel, were recovered and displayed for the first time for the veneration of the faithful. The ceremony – presided over by Mons. Renato Boccardo, archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia – was also attended by the Custos of […]
