On Easter morning, at the Church of San Salvatore, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, Custos of the Holy Land, presided over and solemnly concluded the Easter Triduum together with the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land. The Consul General of Italy in Jerusalem, Domenico Bellato, also took part in the celebration, as a sign of closeness to the Franciscan presence and the local Christian community. As required by the Status Quo, the Easter celebration also took place that same morning […]
After a period of profound uncertainty caused by war and school closures, the Terra Sancta School in Ramla has officially reopened its doors. For students and faculty, the return to the classroom represents much more than a simple resumption of lessons: it is a fundamental step toward reclaiming "normal life" and psychological stability. A mission of peace and stability Fr. Abdel Masih Fahim, director of the school, emphasizes how this interruption has highlighted a crucial message for young people: the […]
Jerusalem experienced today one of its most significant traditions during the Easter season: the exchange of greetings between the Orthodox Churches and the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land. An appointment that, year after year, renews the spirit of fraternity among the different Christian communities present in the Holy Places and that, in this particularly fragile historical period, assumes an even deeper value. Traditionally, the visit of the Oriental Churches to the Franciscans of the Custody takes place […]
On the evening of Friday, April 3, the traditional Via Crucis through the streets of Rome, led by Pope Leo XIV, will feature texts written by a Franciscan, Fr. Francesco Patton, who served as Custos of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025. What was the genesis of this text and how did it come into the hands of Pope Leo? The genesis is very simple. I received a phone call from the Secretariat of State and they told me […]
