The second day of the Custodial Chapter opened with the celebration of the Eucharist, the vital center and foundation of fraternal life. This was followed by the continuation of the chapter work in the assembly hall, introduced by a moment of prayer that gave a spiritual and contemplative tone to the entire day.
Br. Eduardo Masseo Gutierrez, Chapter Secretary, carefully conducted the roll call, verifying the presence of the capitulars both physically and remotely. He then read the letter in which the newly elected Discreet of the Holy Land, Br. Raimondo Girgis, officially accepted his appointment.
The General Visitor then appointed the scrutineers: Br. George Haddad, Br. George Jamal, and Br. Johnny Jallouf. Afterwards, the chapter assembly proceeded to elect the three moderators: Br. Marcelo Cichinelli, Br. Alberto Pari, and Br. Stephane Milovitch.
Next, the General Visitor delivered his report, opening a time of listening and reflection. During the second morning session, the assembly gratefully welcomed the address of the outgoing Custos, Br. Francesco Patton, who offered a detailed reflection on his nine years of service leading the Custody. With heartfelt words of gratitude, he thanked the friars for the journey shared and recalled, with clarity and depth, his experience serving the Holy Places and the local Christian community. Both he and the General Visitor emphasized the immense spiritual value of the Franciscan mission in the Holy Land, encouraging the friars to live their vocation with joy and responsibility in this unique and often complex context.
In the early afternoon, before resuming the work, the Minister General, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, and the Vicar General, Br. Ignacio Ceja, left the Holy Land for a mission in Congo. Both greeted the assembly fraternally, expressing their gratitude to the Custody for its Gospel witness and encouraging the friars to continue this historic Franciscan presence with dedication, a presence the Minister General described as “the pearl of the missions.”
The afternoon session, which began at 3:30 p.m. with prayer, unfolded in two distinct moments. The capitulars divided into study groups to further examine the reports presented earlier, giving rise to a calm, fraternal, and participatory discussion. The debate highlighted shared attention to the proposed themes, especially those related to the current context of tension and conflict, which directly affects the friars’ daily lives.
In a spirit of great openness and unity, the entire chapter body experienced a day that was intense yet peaceful, marked by a shared desire to strengthen fraternal communion and face present challenges together. Beyond administrative matters, the Chapter once again proved to be a valuable occasion for encounter and fraternal embrace, lived with a deep awareness of the common mission in a Land that, though wounded, remains profoundly holy.
The day concluded with the sharing of reflections from the working groups, followed by the celebration of Vespers, presided over by Br. Tony Choucry, a spiritual seal on a day lived in depth and evangelical fraternity.
