FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN THE HOLY LAND

Giuseppe Buffon ofm, professor of Church history at the Pontificia Universitas Antonianum of Rome, has published a paper in the quarterly review Antonianum, vol. 85 (2010) 19-44, regarding the relations between the Franciscans of the Holy Land Custody and the civil authorities of the Ottoman Empire during the second half of the 19th century. (more…)

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN THE HOLY LAND

Driving from Bethlehem to Jerusalem is a daily experience for me. I have the “freedom” of choice among various Israeli checkpoints in order to exit from the “security fence” surrounding Bethlehem, which presents itself as an 8-metre high concrete wall in certain places. (more…)

If you want to know more about the upcoming Synod of Bishops in the Middle East, and get a clearer picture of the Church in these countries, have a look at this article by Zenit:

Click here to read the article

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN THE HOLY LAND

On Saturday 22 May the Minister General of the Franciscan Order, br. José Rodríguez Carballo ofm, issued the decree confirming br. Pierbattista Pizzaballa ofm as Custos of the Holy Land for another three years. (more…)

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN THE HOLY LAND

Peace in the Holy Land is still a dream after 62 years since Israel declared its independence on 15 May 1948 and immediately entered into conflict with its Arab neighbours, who did not accept the UN Partition Plan of Palestine into an Arab and an Israeli state. (more…)

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN THE HOLY LAND

On Thursday 13 May the Franciscans of the Holy Land Custody celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord on the Mount of Olives. The celebrations were conducted by Fr. Artemio Vítores ofm, Custodial Vicar, at the “Imbomon”, or small dome-like structure in the form of an Aedicula, that marks the spot from where Jesus ascended into heaven. (more…)

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN THE HOLY LAND

On 6 and 7 May the Franciscans of the Custody celebrated the feast of the Finding of the True Cross in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.   (more…)