Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Pope confirms Fra Pierbattista Pizzaballa as Custodian of the Holy Land

Fr.  PizzaballaThe Pope has confirmed Fra Pierbattista Pizzaballa as Custodian of the Holy Land and Guardian of Mount Zion for another three years.

Fr. Pizzaballa was elected Custodian of the Holy Land for the first time in May 2004 and was reconfirmed in the position for another three years in 2010, the Custody’s website reports. 

His next big commitment will be the Custody’s Chapter which is taking place between 1 and 15 July 2013 in Jerusalem. 

The meeting will be chaired by Fra Renato Beretta, General Visitor of the Custody of the Holy Land. He was nominated to the position by the minister general of the order in July 2012.

The Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land have been present in the Middle Eastern region for eight centuries and have looked after the places where the Christian faith originated on behalf of the Catholic Church, throughout this time. 

The Custody is made up of about 300 Franciscan Friars, of various nationalities. 

They welcome pilgrims, watch over the holy places, help the local Christian community, are committed to the study of the Scriptures and archaeological research and engage in dialogue with people of different religious faiths and cultures.

Pizzaballa was born on 21 April 1965 in the northern Italian municipality of Cologno al Serio, in the diocese and province of Bergamo. He was ordained a priest on 15 September 1990.