On Saturday 29 November, as tradition dictates, the Custos of the Holy Land made his solemn entrance into Bethlehem for the beginning of Advent.The parish of Jerusalem welcomed the Custos, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, in the parish of Saint Saviour, with greetings and expressions of gratitude, before setting off in procession towards the Mar Elias convent.There the Custos greeted the local community and gave a few interviews. The procession then moved towards the Bethlehem checkpoint, through which he enters according to […]
The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land has released a "Message to the Faithful of the Holy Land" on the occasion of the opening of the Holy Year 2025 (text attached). “The theme chosen by Pope Francis is: Pilgrims of Hope. For us, Catholics of the Holy Land, hope, precisely in these times, is especially necessary, and the Holy Father, in the Bull of Indiction for the Ordinary Jubilee, reminded us that hope does not disappoint.” “If we […]
On Saturday 27 December, as is customary, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem exchanged Christmas greetings, sharing prayers, reflections, songs and hopes for the future, in an atmosphere of sharing, welcome, and mutual respect. Greetings from the Greek Orthodox brothers The Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Theophilos III, together with other clergy of his Church, was the first to bring Christmas greetings to the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, and to […]
In the tragic scenario of Gaza, the Custody of the Holy Land, through the commitment and the zeal of Fra Ibrahim Faltas, Vicar of the Custody, remains in the front line in the humanitarian mission for the children of Gaza. Fr. Ibrahim has just returned from Rome, where only a few hours ago he was able to welcome more ill children from Gaza who have been taken into Italian hospitals for medical care, through the humanitarian channels activated by the […]
