Death of Father Giovanni Battistelli OFM

Father Giovanni Battistelli served faithfully the Franciscan order in the Holy Land for 59 years in a variety of functions. He spent many years in Egypt and was chosen as head of the order in the Holy Land in 1998.

Father Giovanni, who received Pope John Paul II in the Holy Places during his visit to the Holy Land in 2000, also played an important role in the development of the Hebrew speaking Catholic communities in Israel. He permitted Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa to come and work in the kehillot and also inaugurated the House of Saint Simeon and Anne in Jerusalem, which became home to the Jerusalem kehilla and seat of the Saint James Vicariate.

We offer our condolences to the Franciscans. May his memory be a source of blessing.