F r .

P ier b at t ista P i z z a b a l l a
C ustos of t he H oly L a nd

The
Fr a ncisc a n
Pr e se nce
in the
Holy
Land

Franciscan Printing Press - Jerusalem 2008

Custody of the Holy Land 

 E x t e n t of
t he C ustody of t he
H oly L a nd

t Alep
Jacubieh t t
Ghassanieh t Knaye
Lataquia t

Nicosia
t Rodhes t
t Larnaca Tripoli t
Limassolt Harissa
t
Beyruth t

Damascus
t
Capharnaum,
Acre t t tTabgha,Tiberias,
Mount Tabor
Nazareth,
Cana
tAmman
Jaffa, Ramleh t
Jerusalem, Betania, t Jerico
t
Betphage, Ain Karem, t
Emmaus Bethlehem

t Cairo

Geographical Scope

The Custody of the Holy Land exercises its apostolate in those countries that form an arc opening to the
eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Due to the difficulties inherent to the situation in the Middle East,
the information that follows may at times be approximate or provisional.

 Custody of the Holy Land

The pages that follow are both a response and an
invitation to everyone who is interested in the
current situation of the Holy Places in the Land of
Jesus.

Served in the name of the Church by the sons of Saint The F r a ncisc a n
Francis for the past seven centuries, this mission was
long ago named the “Custody of the Holy Land”;
P r esence
today, as in the past, the Franciscans continue
in t he H oly L a nd
their work as faithful missionaries and prophets of
reconciliation and peace.

This brochure is designed for everyone who wishes

to learn more about the reality of this presence: its
history, its present and the prospects for its future.

These few pages may also be useful to those who,

loving the Lord, believe in the importance of the sites
of His Revelation and His redemptive Incarnation.

This brochure contains brief historical and statistical

data. It presents the various religious and social
aspects of the ecclesiastical work, the message of the
Holy Places, the ministry of hospitality to pilgrims,
as well as the ecumenical and academic activity of the
Custody. It is a summary of information and offers
suggestions for further study; it is up to the reader to
complete the process through direct, non-mediated
contact with the reality of the Holy Land.

Antique seal of the Father Custos,

"Guardian of Mount Zion and
Apostolic Commissioner for the
Holy Land and the East"

Custody of the Holy Land 

 Juridical Constitution
of the Custody of the Holy Land
The B u l l
of C l e m en t VI Clement, bishop, servant of the servants of God,
To his well-loved sons the Minister General and the
Minister of the Land where the Order of Friars Minor
labour, salutations and Apostolic Blessing.
1. We give thanks to the Dispenser of all good, offering Him worthy praise, for having
awakened such zeal and fervour of devotion and faith in our most dear children
in Christ, King Robert and Sanche, Queen of Sicily, illustrious in honouring our
Redeemer and our Lord Jesus Christ, not ceasing to work with indefatigable love
for the praise and glory of God, as well as for the veneration and honour of the Holy
Sepulchre of the Lord and of the other Holy Places beyond the sea.
2. A short time ago good news from the king and queen reached our Apostolic See
relating that, at great cost and following difficult negotiations, they had obtained
a concession from the Sultan of Babylon (that is, Cairo), who to the intense shame
of Christians occupies the Holy Sepulchre of the Lord and the other Holy Places
beyond the sea that were sanctified by the blood of this same Redeemer, to wit that
friars of your Order may reside continuously in the church known as the Sepulchre
and celebrate there Solemn Sung Masses and the Divine Office in the manner of
the several friars of this Order who are already present in this place; moreover, this
same Sultan has also conceded to the King and Queen the Cenacle of the Lord, the
chapel where the Holy Spirit was manifested to the Apostles and the other chapel
in which Christ appeared to the Apostles after his resurrection, in the presence of
Blessed Thomas; and also the news of how the Queen built a convent on Mount Zion
where, as is known, the Cenacle and the said chapels are located; where for some time
she has had the intention of supporting twelve friars of your Order to assure the divine
Liturgy in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, along with three laymen charged with
serving the friars and seeing to their needs.
3. To this end, the abovementioned Queen, in fulfilment of her pious devotion and
that of the King, humbly asked us to intervene with our Apostolic Authority towards
providing for the needs of these same Holy Places by sending devoted friars and
qualified servants to the abovementioned number.
4. We, therefore, approving the pious and praiseworthy proposal of the said King and
Queen, and their devout intention worthy of divine blessing, and wanting to favour

 Custody of the Holy Land

 and encourage their wishes and desires, by this present [bull] do concede to all and to
each of you full and free power to summon, now and in the future, in your presence
and by apostolic authority and at the request of the abovementioned King and Queen
and their successors, after having heard the advice of the counsellors of your Order,
capable and devout friars from among the entire Order to the number indicated.
5. Furthermore, considering the importance of this matter, due consideration is to
be given to those friars who are
destined to the service of God at the
Holy Sepulchre, as well as at the Holy
Cenacle and in the above-mentioned
chapels; this, after duly inquiring of
their Provincial Minister of your Order
regarding the aptitudes of those friars
designated and temporarily destined for
these regions beyond the sea and, in the
case of one of them being absent, that
on each occasion required, the friars
sent to replace those absent be given
license to reside in these regions.
6. We further grant you, in case of refusal
on the friars' part, the power to oblige
them to obey, following an admonition,
through the use of ecclesiastical
censures. Nothing is to contradict these provisions, The 1342 Bull of Clement VI,
which constituted the Custody of
not any apostolic prohibition or contradictory the Holy Land a legal entity.
statutes of the Order, even if supported by solemn
attestation or apostolic ratification or any other
convention, nor yet if some have received from the Apostolic See, in general or in
particular, exemption from interdiction, suspension or excommunication, unless the
apostolic letter makes full, express and literal mention of this indult.
7. We desire that, when those friars so designated are present in the regions beyond the
sea, they be under obedience to and subject to the governance of the Guardian of the
friars of your Order, as well as the Minister Provincial of the Holy Land, with all that
falls within his competence.
Given at Avignon the 21st of November, 1342, in the first year of Our Pontificate.

Custody of the Holy Land 


The C ustody
of t he H oly L a nd :
B r ief H istor ic a l
N ot es
The Province of the Holy Land naturally included
Arial view of the Saint Saviour's
complex, the Custody's principal
monastery.
 Custody of the Holy Land
The presence of the Franciscans in the Holy Land
goes back to the very origins of the Order of Friars
Minor which, founded by St. Francis of Assisi in
1209, has been open to missionary evangelisation
since its origins. The Province of the Holy Land was
born at the General Chapter of 1217 that divided
the Order into provinces; it grew to include all the
lands around the southeast Mediterranean basin,
from Egypt to Greece and beyond.
the land of Christ's birth, together with the places
where the mystery of our redemption was realised.
For this reason the Province of the Holy Land was
considered to be the jewel among the other
provinces and, as a mission field, the jewel
of all the missions founded by the Order
around the world. It was visited by St.
Francis himself who, during his voyages
among Egypt, Syria and Palestine, stayed
here for several months during 1219-1220.
This was the period that saw the famous
encounter between the Little Poor Man
and the Sultan Melek-el-Kamel.
In a time of war, at the height of the
Crusades, Francis of Assisi leapt over
the trenches to meet and dialog with the
sultan, who was commonly seen as the
enemy par excellence, the infidel. This act
was a prophetic example of dialogue and a
testimony to respect for different cultures,
an example that today has so much to say
to people of our times.
It is this same spirit that continues to inspire the
spiritual and human adventure of the Franciscans
in the Middle East in serving the local population,
whether they are Christians or not.

In 1623, in a move to facilitate Franciscan activity,

the Province of the Holy Land was reorganised into
a number of smaller entities, called Custodies. Thus,
the Custodies of Cyprus, of Syria, and that of the
Holy Land proper were created. The Custody of the
Holy Land included the monasteries of Saint-Jean-
d'Acre, Antioch, Sidon, Tyre, Jerusalem and Jaffa.

During this period the Friars Minor in the Holy

Saint Francis Meeting the
Land exercised their apostolate primarily among the
Sultan. Painting by Gaidano
Crusaders. (1898), Saint Saviour's
Monastery.

Custody of the Holy Land 

 Franciscans supporting the
Aedicule of the Holy Sepulchre
during its restoration in 1555.

10 Custody of the Holy Land

I n 1291, the city of Saint-Jean-d'Acre, the last remai-
ning Crusader stronghold, fell into Muslim hands. The
Franciscans found refuge on Cyprus, where the Province
of the Orient had its seat, and continued to assure a pre-
sence in Jerusalem and the other Palestinian sanctuaries.
At that time, Pope John XXII permitted the Provincial
Minister of the Holy Land to send two friars to the Holy
Places every year. In spite of the difficulties, the Friars The F r a ncisc a n
Minor continued to exercise all possible forms of aposto-
late. Their presence in the service of the Holy Sepulchre
P r esence in t he
is attested for the period of 1322 to 1327.
H oly P l aces
The definitive return of the Friars Minor to the Holy
Land, with legal possession of certain Holy Places
and right of use for others, can be attributed to the
generosity of the King of Naples, Robert d'Anjou,
and of Queen Sanche of Majorca. In 1333, through
the mediation of the Franciscan Roger Guérin, they
obtained from the sultan of Egypt the site of the
Cenacle and the right to officiate at liturgies in the Holy
Sepulchre. Among other provisions, it was established
that the Friars Minor would exercise these rights on
behalf of the Christian world. In 1342, Pope Clement
VI approved this project of
the Neapolitan royalty, and
with the bulls Gratias Agimus
and Nuper Carissimæ he
determined the details of the
new entity. The friars assigned
to the Holy Land could come
from any province of the
Order and once in service of
the Holy Land, they would be
under the jurisdiction of the
Father Custos, the “Guardian
of Mount Zion in Jerusalem". Jerusalem. Cloister of the first Franciscan
monastery on Mount Zion.

Custody of the Holy Land 11


The Minister General of the Friars
Minor, successor of Saint Francis,
celebrates Mass at the Altar of the
Mages in Bethlehem.
Franciscans in procession to
the Holy Cenacle, led by the
traditional Kawas escorts.
12 Custody of the Holy Land
The continuous Franciscan presence in
the Holy Land and their commitment
to evangelisation and to the promotion
of Christian values was a determining
factor in the development of the local
church, even to the point of making
possible the restoration of the Latin
Patriarchate in 1847. Since then,
the Custody and the Patriarchate
work together in a spirit of fraternal
collaboration in accomplishing their
respective mandates.
Today, the Custody of the Holy Land is
the only province of the Order with an
international character, composed as it
is of friars from all around the world.
Some choose to enter the Custody at
the beginning of their religious life and
formation, while others choose to come
and serve here for varying periods of
time.
Marking the occasion of the 650th
anniversary of the bull of Clement VI,
Pope John Paul II sent a personally
signed letter to the Minister General
of the Order of Friars Minor. The
Holy Father recalled the bull that
entrusted the Holy Places to the
Order, and he encouraged the sons of
Saint Francis to persevere in carrying
out the mandate consigned to them at
that time by the Vatican.

The Friars Minor, then, are the official

guardians of the Holy Places by
the desire and at the request of the
Universal Church. Pope Paul VI, the
first pope since Saint Peter to visit the
Holy Land, recalled this fact and it
was confirmed by John Paul II during
his pilgrimage during the Great
Jubilee Year, 2000 AD. Jerusalem, March 2000. John
Paul II meeting representatives of
the Jewish and Muslim religions.

January 1964. Pope Paul VI

meeting the Greek Orthodox
Patriarch Athenagoras at
Jerusalem.

Custody of the Holy Land 13

 Today, the Custody's apostolate is carried out in
the following countries: Israel, Palestine, Jordan,
Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and the islands of Cyprus
and Rhodes. Some 300 friars are present in these
countries, working in collaboration with about 100
sisters from various congregations. The Franciscans
serve the principal shrines of the Redemption, among
which the Holy Sepulchre, the Nativity at Bethlehem
and the Annunciation at Nazareth hold pride of
place.

Lent in Jerusalem. The Father

Custos praying inside the aedicule
in the Holy Sepulchre.

A friar praying at the site of Jesus'

birth.

14 Custody of the Holy Land

 View of the Old City of Jerusalem
from the terrace of the Studium
Biblicum Franciscanum.

Custody of the Holy Land 15

 In Galilee The H oly P l aces
CAPERNAUM Memorial of Saint Peter
CANA Place of the first Miracle of Jesus
Chapel of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle
HATTIN Site of the second multiplication of loaves
JAFFA OF NAZARETH Chapel of Saint James the Apostle
MAGDALA Site of the birth of Saint Mary Magdalene
MOUNT TABOR Basilica of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Descendentibus Chapel
Site of the healing of the demon-possessed man at Daburiyeh
NAÏM Site of the resurrection of the widow’s daughter
NAZARETH Grotto of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary
Church of Saint Joseph (Church of the Nutrition)
Mensa Christi
Chapel of the Virgin Mary’s Fright
The precipice
SEPHORIS Home of Saints Joachim and Anne
TABGHA Chapel of the Primacy of Saint Peter
Site of the Beatitudes
TIBERIAS Church of Saint Peter at the Lake of Genesaret

TOTAL 19

Ju de a
AIN KAREM Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist
Church of the Visitation
The Desert of Saint John the Baptist
BETHANY Lazarus’ Tomb
Sanctuary of Saint Lazarus (site of Martha’s home)
BETHLEHEM Grotto of the Nativity of Jesus
The Manger of Christ
Grotto and Tomb of Saint Jerome
Milk Grotto
Saint Joseph’s House
Shepherds’ Field (Beit Sahour)
David’s Reservoir
BETHPAGE Convent of the Palms
EMMAUS-KUBEIBEH Sanctuary of the Apparition of Jesus to the Two Disciples

16 Custody of the Holy Land

JERUSALEM Holy Cenacle (Mount Zion)
Holy Sepulchre and Calvary
Church of the Flagellation
Lithostrotos Chapel (II Station of the Cross)
Chapel of the Meeting with the Cyrene
(V Station of the Cross)
Column of Sentencing of the VII Station of the Cross
Gethsemane: Basilica of the Agony
Gethsemane: Grotto of the Betrayal
Gethsemane: Tomb of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dominus Flevit
Site of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Tomb of the Prophet Isaiah
JAFFA Sanctuary of St. Peter
JORDAN RIVER Site of Jesus’ Baptism
RAMLE Church of Saint Joseph of Arimathea

TOTAL 28

In Sy r i a
DAMASCUS Home of Saint Ananias
Site of the Conversion of Saint Paul

TOTAL 2

In Jor da n
MOUNT NEBO Memorial of the Prophet Moses

TOTAL 1

TOTAL NUMBER OF SANCTUARIES 50

Custody of the Holy Land 17


P astor a l M in istry
Scouts from Saint Saviour’s
Parish, Jerusalem.
In the Middle East, the Latin Catholics have always
18 Custody of the Holy Land
The Franciscans exercise their pastoral ministry in
29 parishes, as well as in numerous other churches,
chapels and chapels of ease. It should be noted in
this regard that the Custody is responsible for the
three largest parishes in the Holy Land: Jerusalem,
Bethlehem and Nazareth. The friars also have
strong roots in both big-city and village parishes
of the region, including in Syria and Lebanon.
Arab parishes, then, are one of the Custody's major
commitments in the Holy Land. Parish activities run
along the same lines as those of parishes elsewhere
in the world, with catechism, administration of the
sacraments, youth work, the Franciscan Secular
Order, prayer groups and lay associations, spiritual
direction, social activities and social welfare activities.
The Franciscan parishes in the Holy Land were
created to serve the Catholics of the Latin Rite (as
Roman Catholics are locally known); for centuries
the friars were their only priests. Today, however,
the friars share the responsibility with the parish
priests of the Latin Patriarchate, reinstituted by Pope
Pius IX in 1847. One of the special occasions that
demonstrate this spirit of unity is the Palm Sunday
procession from Bethpage, on the Mount of Olives,
to the Church of Saint Anne, in the Old City of
Jerusalem, in which all the Latin-rite parishes, not
only the Franciscan ones, take part.
been a small minority. The majority of local
Christians are Greek Orthodox, and the Catholic
minority includes many faithful of the Oriental
rites. Furthermore, in virtually all the Middle
 Eastern countries where the Custody is present, the
Christian communities are a statistical minority
among Muslim or Jewish majorities. This creates
unique problems to which the Franciscans try to
respond in the best possible manner, always aiming
at developing well-formed, vibrant Christian
communities.

Alongside the unflagging, centuries-long

pastoral care of Arab Christians, two
new challenges have appeared in recent
years: the existence of Hebrew-speaking
Catholics and of Catholic immigrants
from a number of different countries.
The Custody has responded to these new
challenges by investing new energies.
Liturgy at Saint Saviour's Parish,
The members of the Kehila, the Hebrew-speaking Jerusalem.
Catholic community, are primarily Jews who have
converted to the Catholic faith. While retaining
their Jewish roots, they find the fulfilment of their
spiritual journey in the Catholic Church. They are
joined by non-Jews who live in an Israeli milieu and
therefore speak Hebrew. The Custody's involvement
with this community began with the opening of
Saints Simeon and Anne House in the new city of
Jerusalem. Here the liturgy is celebrated in Hebrew, The Church of Sts Simeon and
and prayer meetings, catechetical groups, youth Anne, the Jerusalem parish of the
activities and family encounters are held in that Hebrew-speaking faithful.

language. The community's

activities are characterized
by encounter and dialogue.
The Custody has taken the
same pastoral direction in
the town of Jaffa.

Custody of the Holy Land 19

 Another new pastoral mission to which the
Franciscans are open is the apostolate among
foreign workers, particularly Catholics from the
Philippines, Latin America, Eastern Europe and
Africa. These Catholics, mainly women, come to
Israel to work, their respective countries being,
for the most part, in financial crisis.

The Friars celebrate Mass in several languages in

their churches in Jaffa in order to respond to the
needs of these communities. In addition to the
liturgical celebrations, the Franciscan parishes are
put at their disposal for different kinds of religious
or other activities.

Members of the Filipino
community served by the friars
in Jaffa.
The social apostolates of the Custody are part of its
pastoral ministry: schools, colleges, student residences,
skilled craftsmen’s workshops, parish associations,
homes for the aged, after-school programmes, summer
camps and outpatient clinics.

20 Custody of the Holy Land

Pilgrims to the Holy Land meet the friars almost
exclusively in the sanctuaries. They are not always
aware of the Franciscans' pastoral ministry and they
are perhaps even less aware of their involvement in
helping the most disadvantaged members of society,
Christian and non-Christian alike. In fact, beyond
their responsibility for the protection of the Holy
Places and for the activities that take place there, the C h o o si n g for the Poor
Franciscans have a wide-ranging, highly significant
pastoral ministry. We will take a look at just one of the
most important examples.
Several centuries ago, the Custody instituted and sup-
ported the Housing and Lodging Ministry as a means
of providing aid and relief to the poorest of the poor,
thus doing its utmost to contribute to a solution of the
thorny problem of living space. Given the special con-
ditions of the Holy Land, this ministry seeks to conso-
lidate the Christian presence around the Holy Places.
The unique situation created by the Arab-Israeli conflict
has given rise to a constant and continuous exodus
of the local Arab Christian population. In Jerusalem
alone, the Custody offers some 350 housing units, for
which the tenants are charged rent based on their ability
to pay, in all cases below market prices.
Other units are rented by the Custody
and put at the disposition of the poor.
In addition, the Franciscans have had
apartments built in Beit Hanina (a
northern suburb of Jerusalem) and
offered them to Christian families for
one-third the market rent. The friars
undertake similar initiatives, not
without difficulties, in Bethlehem and Apartments for Christians under
in Bethpage on the Mount of Olives. In this way, the construction on the Mount
Custody not only protects the Sanctuaries in the literal of Olives near the Bethpage
sanctuary.
sense, but also preserves the living stones of the Holy
Land; that is, the local Christian communities.

Custody of the Holy Land 21

 Yo u t h Wo r k
Holy Land School for Girls in
Jerusalem.
The Custody extends its "choice for the poor" to the
cultural formation of young Christians. Custody
scholarships are awarded to young men and women
who demonstrate the ability and the desire to pursue
a university education. True to its history of activity
in the field of education, the Custody today also
maintains successful primary and secondary schools
of high repute open to children of all religions,
nationalities and races. The varying socio-political
conditions across the Custody's vast territory lead to
a great diversity of programs from one country to
another.

This enterprise implies, of course, a

huge administrative and financial
commitment. The students' financial
resources are always quite reduced; many
come from indigent families and so tuition
fees are waived. Nevertheless, despite the
difficulties, the Custody remains faithful
to its choice for the poor in continuing its
long tradition.

22 Custody of the Holy Land

The schools are located in Israel,
Palestine, Jordan, Cyprus, and
Lebanon, and serve more than
10,000 students: Catholics (of the
Latin, Greek, Armenian, Syrian,
Coptic, Maronite and Chaldean
rites), non-Catholic Christians and
non-Christians. Christians comprise
about 60% of all the students. The
Pupils of the Magnificat Institute
presence of different Christian denominations and
at practice.
of non-Christians helps to explain the complexity
of the Custody's work of evangelisation and
commitment to the "new evangelisation".

Also worthy of attention is the Magnificat Institute.

Founded in 1995 to train experienced musicians
and singers for the sanctuaries and churches of the
Holy Land, it very quickly proved itself a school that
produces graduates at a very high level. It has also
become a place of encounter for people from different
ethnic and religious communities: Among the pupils
and teachers are Jews, Moslems and Christians of
all denominations, united by a common passion for
music and singing.

Custody of the Holy Land 23


Liturgy
We are referring particularly to the pilgrimages and
Pilgrimages are perhaps the most typical aspect of
Every day at the Holy Sepulchre
the Franciscans retrace in
procession moments from Christ's
paschal journey.
24 Custody of the Holy Land
For centuries the Custody of the Holy Land could
only express itself in the language of prayer and
liturgical celebrations. There was not much space for
evangelisation or pastoral ministry. In recent times,
thanks be to God, we have more room to reflect the
multiform nature of our mission. Nevertheless, the
liturgy remains a fundamental dimension of the
Custody's service.
liturgical celebrations at the Holy Sepulchre and at
the Basilica of the Annunciation.
the liturgical life of the Custody.
These "peregrinations" to Jordan,
Emmaus, Bethpage, Bethany, the
site of the Ascension, the Pater
Noster, Dominus Flevit, Ein
Karem and the Cenacle have for
centuries breathed new life into
old stones.
The Holy Sepulchre: Every day of
the year, even when their numbers
are reduced, the friars move in
procession from station to station, following the
steps of Christ's last paschal journey. To experience
this slow, prayerful movement once in your life is
easy, but every day! The same can be said for the
daily liturgies at the Bethlehem Basilica. We leave it
to you to imagine the spiritual riches, but also the
burden, of this liturgical activity during the special
times of the liturgical year, especially Holy Week
and Easter.
Pope Paul VI described the Holy Land as the Fifth S p r e a d i n g t h e M e ss a g e
o f t h e Ho ly P l ac e s
Gospel. Being familiar with this Land, its history
and its human and geographical environment is an
excellent way to attain a fuller, living understanding
of the message of Holy Scripture. This is why the
Franciscans promote love for the gospel by extending
the message of the Holy Places.

The message of the Holy Places is transmitted

throughout the world in different ways: first of
all, through the Franciscan Printing Press, the
publishing arm of the Custody. The publishing
house includes a scientific section that publicizes
the research of Studium Biblicum Franciscanum
scholars, which will be discussed below, as well as a
section for more popular publications, in particular
Holy Land, a magazine founded in 1930 that appears
in five languages: French, Italian, Spanish, English
and Arabic. Holy Land seeks to make known the Friars during the daily procession
history, the Biblical and archaeological riches, the at the Grotto of the Nativity in
Bethlehem.
spirituality and the activities of the Holy Places.

Custody of the Holy Land 25

 The magazine's popular nature does not detract
from its high standard of material, and it is a very
useful tool for becoming familiar with the Holy
Places. The Custody also periodically re-edits its
Guide to the Holy Land, keeping it up to date.

Transmitting the message of the Holy Places is

also the task of the Holy Land Commissioners.
These are friars stationed all over the world, who
are specially assigned to publicize the activities
and the problems of the Custody, and to fan
the flame of interest in the Holy Places that is
characteristic of the Christian faith and that is
expressed above all through pilgrimage.

To more efficiently meet the need for accessible

information regarding the activities of the
custody, an Internet site in Italian, English,
Spanish, and French has been opened (www.
custodia.org). The friars themselves manage the
web site and keep it up to date.

26 Custody of the Holy Land

One apostolic activity in which the Custody has always S e r v i n g P i l g r ims
invested resources is the spiritual accompaniment
of pilgrims from all over the world. Many friars
are devoted to meeting pilgrims and serving as
guides for their groups. Moreover, to better assist
the pilgrims, the Custody continues its traditional
activity of Casa Nova centres, visitors' centres and
hostels in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth, and
on Mount Tabor. These Franciscan guesthouses
have all been refurbished to offer a good, basic level
of comfort.
The Custody also organizes its own pilgrimages from
all over the world, assisted by the best professional
organizations and offering abundant, qualified
spiritual assistance.
For those pilgrims particularly interested in an
intense time of prayer and reflection, the sanctuary
of Gethsemane, near the Olive Garden, offers
the possibility of spending time in a Gethsemane Jerusalem faithful of the Latin
hermitage. The same service is offered at the rite during the Way of the Cross.
Sanctuary of Saint John in the Desert,
near Ein Kerem, recently restored.
Here, not only Catholic pilgrims, but
also Orthodox pilgrims from different
rites, can meet.
Also worth noting is the not insignificant
stream of Israeli visitors to the
sanctuaries, particularly those at Ein
Kerem and Mount Tabor.

Custody of the Holy Land 27

 E ngl ish S pe a k ing
C om m is s a r i ats
Australia
Commissariat of the Holy Land
47 Victoria St.
Waverley NS W, 2024 - Australia
Telephone: +61. 2 9369.9300
Fax: +61. 2 9369.9322
E-mail: h
olyland@franciscan.org.au
Canada
Commissariat de Terre Sainte
1247, Place Kilborn
Ottawa, ONT. K1H 6K9 - Canada
Telephone: +1. 613 737.69.72
Fax: +1. 613 737.69.72
E-mail: t erresainte@bellnet.ca
Great Britain
Commissariat of the Holy Land
Friary of Saint Mary of the Angels
"San Damiano - Duns Scotus"
Franciscan International Study Centre
Giles Lane, Canterbury
Kent CT2 NA - England
Telephone: +44. 01227 464939
E-mail: michaelokaneofm@aol.com
Ireland
Commissariat of the Holy Land
Franciscan Friary
Lady Lane
Waterford - Ireland
Telephone: +353. 51 87.42.62
Fax: +353. 51 84.30.62
E-mail: d
idmc@eircom.net
28 Custody of the Holy Land
Malta
Kummissarjat tá l-Art Imqaddasa
8, Triq Santa Lucija
Valletta - VLT 07 - Malta
Telephone: +356. 21 24.22.54
Fax: +356. 21 25.20.31
Cellulare: +356. 99 88.80.68
E-mail: comalt@maltanet.net
New Zeeland
Commissariat of the Holy Land
Saint Francis Friary
50 Hillsborough Road
Mount Roskill
Auckland 1004 - New Zealand
Telephone: +64. 9 625.66.51
Fax: +64. 9 625.73.84
Papua-New Guinea
Commissariat of the Holy Land
Saint Anna Friary
P.O.B. 133
Aitape, Sandaun Province 553
Papua-New Guinea
Telephone: +675. 857 20.82
Fax: +675. 857 20.72
Philippines
Commissariat of the Holy Land
69 San Pedro Bautista St.
San Francisco del Monte
1104 Quezon City - Philippines
Telephone: +63. 2 972.23.23
+63. 2 928.85.38
Fax: +63. 2 924.37.66
Porto Rico
Comisaría de Tierra Santa
P.O.B. 51436
Levittown Station
Levittown - Puerto Rico 00950-1436
Telephone: +1. 787 784.61.79
Fax: +1. 787 792.14.16
Singapore
Vice-Commissariat of the Holy Land
St. Anthony Friary
5 Bukit Batok East Avenue 2
Singapore 659918
Telephone: +65. 6896.1050
Fax: +65. 6896.1827
South Africa
Commissariat of the Holy Land
P.O.B. 17004
Groenkloof
0027 Pretoria - South Africa
Telephone: +27. 12 346.14.38
+27. 12 345.11.72
Fax: +27. 12 346.14.38
South Korea
Commissary of the Holy Land
17, Jeong-dong, Jung-Gu
Seoul 100-120 - South Korea
Telephone: +82. 2 63.64.55.00
Fax: +82. 2 63.64.55.13
E-mail: mission@ofmkorea.org
Custody of the Holy Land
Taiwan
Commissariat of the Holy Land
Franciscan Friary
26 Mingchih Road, Section 3
Taishan Shiang
Taipei Hsien [243] - Taiwan
Telephone: +886. 2 2904.0802
Fax: +886. 2 2375.4439
Web: w ww.ccreadbible.org (Chinese)
USA
Commissariat of the Holy Land
Franciscan Monastery
1400 Quincy St., N.E.
Washington D.C. 20017-3087 - U.S.A.
Telephone: +1 202-526 68 00
Fax: +1 202-526 98 89
Commissariat of the Holy Land
Serra Retreat Center: 310-456-6631 #14
POB 127
Malibu, CA 90265 - USA
Telephone: +1 310-4566631
Fax: +1 310-4566051
Commissariat of the Holy Land
Saint Anthony’s Friary
3140 Meramec Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63118-4339 - U.S.A.
Telephone: +1 314-353 77 29
Fax: +1 314-655 05 63
E-mail: frwarren@serraretreat.com
Web:  www.serraretreat.com
29
E c u m e n ic a l A c t i v i t y
a n d I n t e r - r e l igi o u s
Di a logue
The goals of the Christian Information Centre
The Father Custos meeting
representatives of Jerusalem's
non-Catholic communities.
30 Custody of the Holy Land
The Custody exercises its ecumenical activity
principally in the cultural field. The most meaningful
examples are the Christian Information Centre and
the Saint Paul Memorial in Damascus.
are several: providing scientific news bulletins
regarding Christian life in the Holy Land to media
professionals, writers, other specialists, and religious
communities; putting its facilities at the disposal
of various Churches of the country for ecumenical
meetings, conferences, and prayer groups for
Christians of all rites; and providing a venue for press
conferences and other religious or cultural activities.
The Centre publishes a periodical newsletter.
Through one of its activities, the Franciscan Pilgrims
Office, the Centre has rendered valuable service to
thousands of pilgrims and priests since 1965; for
example, through offering a reservations service for
those wishing to celebrate
Holy Mass in the different
sanctuaries.
The Saint Paul Memorial was built in 1964 on Custody
land on the outskirts of Damascus, on the site where
the conversion of Saint Paul is commemorated.
Pope Paul VI requested the Memorial and bore all
expenses. The purpose of the Memorial is
to provide a venue for spiritual exercises
and theological, pastoral, ecumenical,
historical or archaeological meetings.
The house and chapel are at the disposal
of Catholics of all rites and also of other
Christians, if necessary, for their spiritual
needs. Pilgrims who wish to meet Paul on
the site of his conversion are welcome. In
addition, the Memorial is open for various
activities of the local pastoral apostolate.

Alongside the more formal ecumenical

activities, we cannot omit mention of the daily, Damascus. The Memorial of
informal contact with Christians of different Saint Paul.
rites and denominations. This contact increases
familiarity and mutual respect and allows us to
regard with a renewed vision our brethren who are
not in full communion with the Catholic Church.

It is a commonplace that in certain Franciscan

parishes the major holidays, like Christmas or Easter,
see faithful of different confessions celebrating the
liturgy together.

The Custody's commitment to inter-religious

dialogue is facilitated, and even made obligatory,
by the religious situation of the region: Christians
account for barely 2% of the population, whereas
the majority of the population are Muslims and
Jews.

Custody of the Holy Land 31

 Throughout their 800-year presence in the Holy
Land, the friars have always sought to be true to the
exhortation of their father Saint Francis to comport
themselves in one of two manners when living among
people of a different religious faith: The first is not to
ask questions or seek out debate, but to meet every
human being from within God's love, testifying in
this way to their Christian faith. The other manner
is, when they see that this would be pleasing to God,
to proclaim the Word openly. The Franciscans have
always favoured silent testimony to their faith, living
in solidarity with the people in the places they serve,
seeking a deeper understanding of their religious
and cultural traditions to benefit from their spiritual
treasures. In these regions, it is frequently impossible
to carry out an apostolate directly, but we always try
to live our faith with integrity, so as perhaps to cause
others to ask questions and start a sincere dialogue.

32 Custody of the Holy Land

The scientific activity of the Studium Biblicum S cien t ific A ct i v it y
Franciscanum (SBF) is recognized throughout the
biblical studies and archaeology world. Instruction
began at the Flagellation Monastery during the 1923-
1924 university year. In 1982, it was recognized as
an associated faculty of the Faculty of Theology of
the Pontificium Athenæum Antonianum of Rome. Its
first course of studies was the Studium Theologicum
Jerosolymitanum, which was carried out in close
collaboration with the International Seminary at
Saint Saviour's Monastery, where not only young
friars of the Custody, but also selected friars from
other provinces of the Franciscan Order, prepare for
the priesthood.

The completion of the SBF's new home (inaugurated

on November 17, 1991, by the prefect for the
Congregation of Catholic Education and the Jordan. The Memorial of Moses.
(Photo from the 1950s.)
Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor) is
the final step in a series of
renovations throughout
the Flagellation complex,
in view of adapting the
Studium to the exigencies of

Custody of the Holy Land 33


Friar-archaeologists and workers
at a dig in Capernaum.
As an educational centre, the SBF offers the pontifical
34 Custody of the Holy Land
a truly modern Centre. By
decree of the Congregation
for Catholic Education it was
erected as a Faculty of Biblical
Science and Archaeology in
2001.
As a research centre, it is
dedicated to the pursuit of
archaeological studies, in
particular to rediscovering
the Holy Places of the New Testament and the early
church in the Holy Land; to the study of literary
sources (Jewish and Christian written testimony,
ancient Holy Land voyages); and to illustrating
the history of the sanctuaries of the Redemption.
It carries out biblical research in all its historical,
exegetical, theological, linguistic and environmental
aspects.
academic degree of baccalaureate in theology of
the Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum and
license and doctoral degrees in biblical science and
 archaeology. Also offered are a superior diploma
in Oriental-Biblical and Archaeological Sciences
and a diploma in Biblical Formation. Since 1991,
it also confers the Diploma of Biblical Studies of
the Catholic Biblical Institute of Hong Kong. It
organizes continuing Biblical education, conferences
and formation courses for Holy Land guides. The
program includes ancient oriental languages, as
well as special introductions to the Old and New
Testaments, to exegesis and Biblical theology, to
the history and geography of the Biblical lands,
to Biblical archaeology and ancient Christian
archaeology and to the topography of Jerusalem, as
well as guided excursions in the Holy Land, Jordan,
Egypt and Turkey.

The SBF is open to students of any nationality, to

A room of the Flagellation
religious and lay people, men and women. The library.
students generally come from abroad, but there are
also local students, even
non-Catholics.

Custody of the Holy Land 35

 Also attached to the SBF, is the archaeological museum
(among whose collections are objects from the digs
carried out by the members of the SBF at Nazareth,
Capernaum, Dominus Flevit, the Mount of Olives,
the Jerusalem sanctuaries and their environs, the
Judean desert, Transjordan, the Galilee, and the two
herodian fortresses: Herodium and Machaerous)
and the specialized library, with more than 30,000
volumes and about 400 journals.

That part of the cultural world that is particularly

interested in oriental studies is also familiar with
our Oriental Study Centre in Cairo. Its goal is
to develop the oriental sciences with particular
regard to the Christian communities of the Middle
East and documentation of its life, as well as of
the history of the Franciscans in the Holy Land,
continuing the work of Father Golubovich ofm. The
Centre’s primary activity is publication. It boasts
a unique library: in addition to more than 50,000
volumes and more than 400 journals, it is home to
an excellent collection of oriental manuscripts in
Arabic, Syrian, Coptic, Armenian, Turkish, Persian,
etc.

36 Custody of the Holy Land

Nazareth, 3rd century graffiti
showing the Greek inscription:
X(AIP)E MAPIA, i.e. Ave
Maria.

Custody of the Holy Land 37

The Custody is a presence rooted in the Middle East, C onclusion
the Holy Land. It is a meeting point, a bridge (albeit
a shaky one at times) between two cultures, the east
and the west. There is no place in the world like
Jerusalem, where all the Christian denominations
are present. Beyond the obvious difficulties of
human relationships, the Holy Land has a unique
charm. Here the Franciscans represent a rich
historical presence that, throughout the centuries
has learned a great deal through dialogue among
Christians. On the inter-religious level, it is a small
entity in relationship to the two major presences:
Judaism and Islam. The Franciscans take on certain
aspects of oriental tradition while managing to
communicate something of their own culture. In
the Holy Land, the friars are at the heart of the life
of the Church and the world. In spite of limitations
due to paucity of personnel and the difficulty of the
spoken languages, they still succeed in meeting and
accompanying pilgrims and the faithful from all
parts of the world, and in fruitful discussion with
those who do not think as they do.

Holy Land is a fascinating place, a continual challenge.

But the greater challenge that the Franciscans are
still facing is not to limit themselves to their present
material situation, but to hold themselves in an
active, critical attitude, always full of evangelical
hope.

38 Custody of the Holy Land

 Palm Sunday Procession

Custody of the Holy Land 39

 C hronology

1229 – The Franciscans establish themselves in Jerusalem near the Fifth Station of the
Way of the Cross.
1323 – Service and a humble abode in the Holy Sepulchre.
1335 – Foundation of the Convent of the Cenacle.
1342 – Canonical erection of the Custody of the Holy Land by Pope Clement VI.
1347 – Definitive installation of the Order in the Sanctuary of the Nativity at
Bethlehem.
1392 – Recovery of the Grotto of the Apostles, north of the Olive Garden.
1485 – Purchase of the site of the birth of John the Baptist in Ain Kerem. The present
church dates to 1621.
1551 – Final expulsion from the Cenacle.
1557 – The seat of the Custody moves to Saint Saviour’s Monastery in Jerusalem.
1620 – Purchase of the ruins of the Sanctuary of the Annunciation. The first church
dates to 1730.
1631 – Purchase of the ruins of the Sanctuary of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.
1666 – Purchase of the Olive Garden in Jerusalem. The current church was built
during 1919 - 1924.
1679 – Purchase of the property of the Sanctuary of the Visitation in Ain Kerem. The
current church was built during 1938 - 1940.
1745 – Acquisition of the Crusader ruins of the Sanctuary of the Nutrition (the home
of Saint Joseph) in Nazareth. The first chapel dates to 1754; the current church
was built during 1911 – 1914.

40 Custody of the Holy Land

1836 – Acquisition of the ruins of the Flagellation in Jerusalem. The chapel dates to
1839.
1861 – The Marchioness P. Nicolay donates the Chapel of Saint Cleopas at Emmaus-
Qubeibeh. The current church dates to 1901.
1878 – Acquisition of the site of the sanctuary at Naïm. The chapel dates to 1880.
1880 – Acquisition of the site at Bethpage. The chapel dates to 1883.
1889 – Purchase of the Fifth Station, Dominus Flevit, Tabgha, and the Ruins of
Magdala.
1894 – Acquisition of the ruins of Capernaum. The Memorial of Saint Peter was
consecrated in 1990.
1909 – Purchase of the Shepherds’ Field at Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem. The chapel
was built during 1953 and 1954.
1933 – Acquisition of the traditional site of the baptism of Christ on the shores of the
River Jordan.
1936 – Construction of the convent of the Cenacle on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
1950 – Recovery of the site at Bethany. In 1952, construction of the Sanctuary of Saint
Lazarus.
1964 – Paul VI pilgrim in the Holy Land.
1969 – Consecration of the new Church of the Annunciation at Nazareth.
2000 – John Paul II visits the Holy Land on the occasion of the Great Jubilee.

Custody of the Holy Land 41

 I nde x
Map: The extent of the Custody of the Holy Land. 4
The Franciscan Presence in the Holy Land 5
Papal Bull of Clement VI 6
Brief history of the Custody of the Holy Land 8
Franciscan Presence and Custody of the Holy Places 11
Shrines 16
Pastoral Ministry 18
Option for the Poor 21

Youth Formation 22

Liturgical Ministry 24

Promoting the Message of the Holy Places 25

Service to Pilgrims 27

Commissariats 28
Ecumenical Activity 30
Academic Activity 33
Conclusion 38
Chronology 40

42 Custody of the Holy Land