Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

The Latest

Pope Leo XIV called Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa on Friday, July 18, 2025, just before the cardinal entered Gaza following the July 17 attack on Holy Family Parish in Gaza.

Pope to Cardinal Pizzaballa after Gaza church attack: ‘It is time to stop this slaughter’

Jul 18, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

“It is time to stop this slaughter.” With these words, Pope Leo XIV expressed his firm condemnation of the Israeli... Read more

Father Gabriel Romanelli with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, celebrating Christmas Mass at Holy Family Parish in Gaza, in December 2024.

Gaza's only Catholic priest among injured in Israeli attack

Jul 17, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

The Holy Family Church in Gaza was hit Thursday amid a new wave of Israeli bombings, leaving several people dead... Read more

Father Bashar Fawadleh, Latin rite pastor of Taybeh, with children from his community.

Christian village in Palestine holding out under attacks by Israeli settlers

Jul 11, 2025

By Andrés Henríquez

The small, entirely Christian village of Taybeh is suffering severe attacks by Israeli settlers. Read more

The popemobile used by Pope Francis during his visit to Bethlehem in 2014.

Pope Francis’ last gift to Gaza: A popemobile converted into a mobile clinic

May 5, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Before his death, Pope Francis donated one of his popemobiles to be converted into a mobile clinic to assist the... Read more

Christians processing through the Old City of Jerusalem.

Report reveals escalation of violence against Christians in the Holy Land

Apr 14, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

The report revealed a climate of hostility that, according to one of the study’s authors, Federica Sasso, only represents “the... Read more

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa speaks with Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church, during his December 2024 visit to Gaza.

Catholic priest in Gaza reports explosions near parish

Mar 18, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Father Gabriel Romanelli told Vatican News the bombings occurred just 300 or 400 meters (about 985 to 1,300 feet) from... Read more

Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, during an interview at the Vatican on Dec. 11, 2024.

Vatican: Avoid duplicating Good Friday’s Pontifical Collection for the Holy Land

Mar 18, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti asked bishops to avoid promoting fundraising events that would duplicate the Pontifical Collection for the Holy Land... Read more

The Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center.

Catholic leaders welcome Gaza ceasefire and renewed Holy Land pilgrimages

Jan 18, 2025

By Jonah McKeown

Catholic leaders in the Holy Land expressed cautious optimism this week that pilgrims will be able to return to the... Read more

The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, speaks with Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church, during his December 2024 visit to Gaza.

Cardinal Pizzaballa on truce between Israel and Hamas: ‘It was absolutely necessary’

Jan 17, 2025

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said that in the Holy Land “people are happy because this war has worn us down, exhausted... Read more

The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, lights a candle in the Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza during his visit there on Dec. 22, 2024.

PHOTOS: Cardinal Pizzaballa shares Christmas message after Gaza visit

Dec 23, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

The press conference was not only a chance for the Latin patriarch to share an annual Christmas message but also... Read more

In a July 24, 2024, press release, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem — a diocese that includes Jordan, Cyprus, Palestine, and Israel — announced that 40 tons of nonperishable food kits were delivered by Malteser International to a newly-established distribution center near the patriarchate’s compound in the region for people in northern Gaza.

Second round of aid delivered to Gaza by Latin Patriarchate and Order of Malta

Jul 26, 2024

By Gigi Duncan

The Latin Patriarchate and Sovereign Order of Malta signed the Memorandum of Understanding agreement in May, which aims to supply... Read more

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa arrives in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, 2023.

Israel-Hamas war casts pall over Christmas Eve vespers in Bethlehem

Dec 24, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

At Bethlehem’s Basilica of the Nativity, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa presided over the first vespers of Christmas. Read more

A moment at the vigil in preparation for Christmas held on Dec. 22, 2023, at the Church of St. Saviour in Jerusalem.

Catholics in the Holy Land gather at prayer vigil to prepare for Christmas

Dec 23, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

The weekend before Christmas began with an evening of prayer and music at the Church of St. Saviour, the Latin... Read more

The Missionaries of Charity convent located on the compound of Holy Family Parish, the only Catholic church in Gaza, was damaged by rocket fire on Dec. 16, 2023.

Convent in Gaza uninhabitable after taking fire; residents take refuge in parish church

Dec 20, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

The convent, which was home to over 54 disabled persons as well as three religious sisters, was greatly damaged by... Read more

At the end of the Mass of consecration on Nov. 1, 2023, María Ruiz Rodríguez shows the ring symbolizing her membership in the Ordo Virginum. That's the only outward sign of her consecration.

Church in Jerusalem welcomes new consecrated member

Nov 12, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

María Ruiz Rodríguez made her consecration in the Ordo Virginum on Nov. 1, permanently rooting herself in the local ecclesiastical... Read more

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem.

Latin patriarch of Jerusalem asks for donations in face of suffering, hatred in Holy Land

Nov 7, 2023

By Andrés Henríquez

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa explained that it is “charity and prayer” that have animated the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem “in times... Read more

The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem arrive at a press conference, Oct 18, 2023. The Anglican bishop Hosam Naum is followed by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem.

Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem hold press conference after Gaza hospital explosion

Oct 18, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, religious leaders spoke to the press about the explosion at the Anglican hospital “Al Ahli” in... Read more

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa blesses the congregation at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on April 4, 2021.

Catholic patriarch calls day of prayer and fasting for peace in the Holy Land

Oct 12, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has urged Catholics to organize times of prayer with Eucharistic adoration and recitation of the rosary. Read more

Pope Francis prays during a general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 20, 2023. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarch of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, celebrates Easter Sunday Mass at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on April 4, 2021.

Pope Francis, Jerusalem patriarch call for peace after Hamas attack

Oct 8, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope issued an appeal Sunday to “please stop weapons attacks!” Read more

Pope Francis prayed for peace in the Holy Land at the end of his Angelus address on Jan. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis expresses sorrow over ‘spiral of death’ in the Holy Land

Jan 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In his Sunday Angelus address, the pope expressed “great sorrow” for the death of Palestinians killed in an Israeli military... Read more