In the evocative village of Ain Karem, nestled among the hills west of Jerusalem, the Custody of the Holy Land celebrated the solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. On June 24, in the grotto-shrine which tradition holds as the birthplace of the Forerunner, a very reduced celebration was held due to current limitations. The mass was presided over by Fr. Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land. John, the child prophet The liturgy drew attention to the […]
Forgiveness and reconciliation have always been at the heart of the Jubilee, in the special form of plenary indulgence. Not much room is devoted to the subject in the normal catechism and it is often treated with prejudice. However, it is central in order to live the Holy Year with awareness and enjoy its benefits to the full. We discussed this with Monsignor Vincenzo Peroni, a former master of the Pope’s ceremonies and today in service at the Custody of […]
A new pavilion has been inaugurated at the Helen Keller School in Beit Hanina, an institution that has been accompanying girls and boys with special educational needs for years. The school, supported by the Custody of the Holy Land, confirms itself as a place where education is intertwined with inclusion, care, and respect for the dignity of every person. “It is not ability that counts, but the will to grow” Br. Francesco Ielpo, custos of the Holy Land, described the […]
On Monday 8th April, the altar in the Latin chapel of the Crucifixion, on Calvary (in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre), was removed. In the next few days it will be shipped to Florence, where it will be restored and exhibited in the Museo Marino Marini, in the famous Rucellai Chapel. A homecoming The altar was donated to the Custody of the Holy Land by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Ferdinando de’ Medici in 1578. At the exhibition in Florence, it […]
