Between July 24 and 26, 2025, Br. Francesco Ielpo made his official entrance into the three main holy sites of Christianity under the care of the Custody of the Holy Land: the Cenacle and the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. This marks a significant moment in the Franciscan tradition, signifying the beginning of his service as Custos, leading the Franciscan presence in the places tied to the life of Jesus. Each stop was […]
On Saturday, 16 November, the auditorium of the Immaculate Conception, in the convent of St Saviour in Jerusalem, hosted a symposium on the martyrs of Damascus, who were canonized in Rome on 20 October 2024. The meeting, entitled “Martyrdom. A sign of journey into the faith,” was an opportunity to reflect on the deep meaning of Christian martyrdom, in the light of the testimony given by the Franciscan martyrs of Damascus. The speakers approached the topic of martyrdom from different […]
At the Church of Saint Saviour, the solemnity of Our Lady of the Pillar, patroness of Spain and of the Guardia Civil, was celebrated. The celebration was presided over by the Vicar Custos, Br. Ulise Zarza, with the participation of friars, religious, Spanish diplomatic representatives, and faithful from the Spanish-speaking communities present in the Holy Land. As is tradition, the Spanish Consul General in Jerusalem, José Javier Gutiérrez Blanco-Navarrete, attended the Mass, accompanied by his wife Rebekah Kosinski. Also present […]
The Advent season is marked with a special meaning this year at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, in Washington DC. 2023 marks the 800th anniversary of the first nativity scene ever, created by Saint Francis of Assisi in the Italian village of Greccio on Christmas night in 1223. To commemorate the anniversary, the Franciscan Monastery is hosting an exhibition of hundreds of nativity scenes from all over the world. The collections in the exhibition The exhibition […]
