Ordination of Archbishop Pizzaballa

In a solemn mass, presided by the Prefect of the Congregation of Oriental Churches, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, former Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land, was ordained archbishop. In the presence of many bishops and priests, religious and lay people, including a large delegation from the diocese of the Patriarchate, the solemn mass was celebrated and Cardinal Sandri laid his hands on Archbishop Pizzaballa. The other two ordaining bishops were His Beatitude Fouad Twal, emeritus Patriarch of Jerusalem and His Excellency Francesco Beschi, the Archbishop of Bergamo.

The ordination was attended by a delegation from the Hebrew speaking kehillot in Israel including Latin Patriarchal Vicar, Father David Neuhaus, responsible for Jaffa kehilla, Father Apolinary Szwed,a large group of the Koinonia John the Baptist community including parish priest of Tiberias, Father Giuseppe Di Nardi, responsible for the northern Russian community, Father Sergei, and Father Giacomo, and from the Jerusalem kehilla, Dr. Rivka Karplus.

A unique moment at the ordination was the word addressed to archbishop Pizzaballa by a representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, representing Patriarch Theophilos. There were also representatives from the Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian authorities.

Archbishop Pizzaballa was born in the region of Bergamo in 1965. As a young man, he joined the Franciscans and was sent to the Holy Land. After completing his formation and being ordained a priest, he studied Bible in the Franciscan school of Biblical studies and at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1998, he was named responsible for the kehilla in Jerusalem, a post in which he served until 2004, when he was elected head of the Franciscans in the Holy Land and Custos of the Holy Places. In 2005, he was named Latin Patriarchal Vicar for the Hebrew speaking Catholics in Israel, and served until 2008. On completing three terms as Custos of the Holy Land, he was named Apostolic Administrator of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem by Pope Francis on June 24, 2016.

Mazal tov, His Excellency Archbishop Pierbattista, our prayers accompany you on your new mission.