On June 6, on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias, the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land, along with faithful from nearby areas, celebrated a solemn mass at the Chapel of the Primacy of Peter, at the place where, according to tradition, the risen Jesus met the apostle Peter after his fall. The liturgy, led by the Custos of the Holy Land, fra Francesco Patton, brought together pilgrims, religious, and local faithful in a moment of prayer […]
Experiencing how beautiful it is to frame your life from the Gospel and always feel that you are accompanied by Jesus: these were the words that guided the 150 young people who gathered in Nazareth from 16 to 18 August for the annual meeting entitled "I live with you". A meeting that this year, due to the ongoing conflict and instability, replaced the Franciscan March. The Son of God chooses to live with us “I would say that the fact […]
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 11th March we were able to speak to fr. Bahjat Elia Karakach, friar of the Custody of the Holy Land and the parish priest of the community of Aleppo, by phone. After the dramatic earthquake on 6th February which brought Turkey and Syria to their knees, Father Bahjat has been in the front line, with his brothers, providing material aid to the families who have lost their homes and supporting the local population. Father Bahjat, we know that the […]
