On the day dedicated to the memory of Saints Simeon and Cleopas, the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land gathered at the Convent of Saint Cleopas in Emmaus (El-Qubeibeh). In this village nestled about 11 kilometers northwest of Jerusalem, beyond the separation wall surrounding the West Bank, the Sunday liturgy of September 27 transformed the Gospel remembrance into a living testimony of faith and fraternal communion. The Franciscan friars, welcomed by the Superior of the local community, Fr. […]
Eight hundred years after his Transitus, Saint Francis still speaks to millions of people throughout the world. His radical choice, his being poor among the poor, his texts and his charism still kindle the hearts of many faithful of every age and from every part of the world. To understand this moment, which is so important for the entire Franciscan family, we spoke with Fr. Cesare Vaiani, who is in Jerusalem for the Triduum in preparation for the Feast of […]
Eight hundred years after the Transitus, Saint Francis is still alive. His teachings, his spiritual legacy, and his charisma continue to represent pillars not only of the Franciscan family, but of the entire Catholic Church. And as every year, the Custody of the Holy Land has celebrated the Passover of the Seraphic Father in the church of Saint Saviour in Jerusalem. A celebration that this year took place in an extremely particular context. On one hand, there is a land […]
From 5 to 9 October 2026, the Custodians of the convents of the Custody of the Holy Land are gathered in Assisi for several days of formation. The meeting takes place in the year in which the Franciscan family celebrates the eighth centenary of the Transitus of Saint Francis, his passage "from this world to the Father". The friars are accompanied by the Custos, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, and by the moderator of ongoing formation, Fr. Diego Dalla Gassa. Together, they […]
