Little Lucia’s gesture was incredibly endearing. At just 4 years old, during a pilgrimage in the Holy Land with her family, Lucia approached a friar and passed him an envelope. Inside were her savings, the coins collected from her parents and relatives. “I want to help the poor children in Jerusalem, Lucia said, this is […]

From the beginning of the year, the Technical Division of the Custody of the Holy Land has worked endlessly to start new works but at the same time finish some demanding and big-scale projects like the one at the complex of Theodory. This project started in July 2011, and has demanded a special focus in the […]

Below is the story of Auriane, a French volunteer and researcher who worked for three months with the Technical Office of the Custody of the Holy Land. On a daily basis she experienced first hand the restoration of residences in the Old City, carried out through the project “Jerusalem, Stones of Memory” promoted by Association […]

In the early hours of Wednesday 18 June Fra Pietro Alberto Kaswalder has returned to the Father’s house. As a young man he participated in excavation campaigns in Jordan and in Capernahum. Last 14 March the Custos of the Holy Land had appointed him as Director responsible for the restructuring works of the Archeological Park […]

On Friday 30 May, the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” organised a coordination meeting for all Catholic charities working to support the Syrian crisis. The war in Syria was at the heart of the first day of Pope Francis’ trip to the Holy Land. In Bethany on Saturday 24 May, he met with some Syrian refugees […]

Here we provide all the speeches delivered by Pope Francis during his pilgrimage in the Holy Land. From the Mass in Amman, where the Holy Father affirmed “Peace is not something which can be bought or sold; peace is a gift to be sought patiently and to be “crafted” through the actions, great and small, […]

A surprise visit to the refectory of Saint Saviour’s Monastery for Pope Francis, who said to the Franciscan friars : “Thank you for what your are doing in the Holy Land. Without exaggeration we can say that if the Holy Land is alive, if there are Christian communities, a Christian presence, it is thanks to you! […]

A few days ago, the Technical Office of the Custody of the Holy Land finished restoration works on the Church vestry and chancel at the Bethphage Sanctuary, just a few kilometres from the Old City of Jerusalem. The cornerstone of the works is the newly fitted out chancel, which has been totally renovated and made […]

During the Holy Mass on the Manger Square in Bethlehem, among the enthusiasm of many local Christians, Pope Francis said: “The Child Jesus, born in Bethlehem, is the sign given by God to those who awaited salvation, and he remains forever the sign of God’s tenderness and presence in our world. The angel announces to the shepherds: […]

Here there is a part of Pope Francis’ homily in Amman, in which he spoke about the gift of Peace. Peace is not something which can be bought; it is a gift to be sought patiently and to be “crafted” through the actions, great and small, of our everyday lives. The way of peace is strengthened if […]

Pope Francis will shortly arrive in the Holy Land, becoming a pilgrim in order to commemorate the historical trip made by Pope Paul VI in 1964, when he gave a historical hug to the Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras. The Holy Father will be in Amman, Jordan, on the 24th May, in Bethlehem on the 25th May […]

Jacopo Gelmi, a young Classical Archaeology graduate from the University of Pavia, is carrying out a 3 month placement as a volunteer at the Archaeological Museum of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, in Jerusalem. Here, he talks about his experience: “The museum has a substantial collection of medals, of all kinds, including military, religious (papal) and […]

For several days now the application iBreviary “pro Terra Sancta” has been available for downloading in an updated version offering new services for users and with the addition of Arabic, Turkish and Portuguese (alongside the existing Italian, French, Spanish, German, English and Latin). iBreviary pro Terra Sancta was created in 2008 by Fr. Paolo Padrini […]

Work to build a new multi-functional reception room at the St John Sanctuary in Aim Karem, near Jerusalem, is progressing at a steady pace. The room, designed to welcome groups pf pilgrims who visit the sanctuary daily, is partially underground and, in the past, has been used as a storeroom, workshop and subsequently abandoned. Work […]

The collaboration continues between the nonprofit organization frate Gabriele Allegra (the NGO of the Sicilian Friars Minor) and the Franciscans of the Holy Land, through ATS pro Terra Sancta. The Allegra NGO has always been attentive to the needs of the poorest, particularly those in the Holy Land and in Bethlehem, a favorite place of […]

The works to expand the Mosaic Center Jericho’s guesthouse in the village of Sabastiya are continuing, thanks to the support of Belgian Development Cooperation. The new facility will include two bedrooms, already completed, plus three more that will be ready in a few months thanks to to support of ATS pro Terra Sancta, as well […]

The words of Marta and Claudia, two young Italians, upon the completion of their service as volunteers working with the children, youths, elderly and disabled of Bethlehem. After having received a degree in Community Psychology, it was our wish to serve as volunteers with the hope of being able to give to others what we […]

In the days following the presentation of the Holy Land Museum project to various Consul-Generals of Jerusalem – which took place in the Convent of San Salvatore in Jerusalem on 7th March –  many newspapers picked the story up. The coverage highlights the great value of the initiative, in which the Custody of the Holy […]

On Tuesday 12th March, Sabastiya, a village in the heart of Cisgiordania, welcomed David Cecile, the Italian Consul-General in Jerusalem, and Elena Clemente, consul. The representatives decided to visit the village’s ancient historic centre to observe the work that has been done in recent years on the various projects financed by Italy and implemented by ATS […]

The consuls and various delegations to Jerusalem, who arrived and were received one-by-one at the headquarters of the Custody of the Holy Land by Fra Pierbattista Pizzaballa, found themselves before several of the most precious objects which the Custody will put on display in the new Terra Sancta Museum. On Friday, March 7, in Saint […]