Marinella Bandini

Marinella Bandini

Born and raised in Italy, Marinella Bandini has been a professional journalist since 2008. She works for several news agencies and online newspapers in the Catholic space. Currently based in Jerusalem, she collaborates with the Custody of the Holy Land.

Articles by Marinella Bandini

Hussam Abu Sini and Chiara Pezzulich bring their daughter, Marta, to be baptized on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Haifa, Israel. Credit: Photo courtesy of Hussam Abu Sini

Catholic couple in Israel baptizes baby in haste: ‘The only hope is in the Church’

Oct 25, 2023 / 07:00 am

An Arab-Israeli doctor and his Italian wife chose to baptize their baby sooner than planned and are leaning on their faith as they plan for worsening conditions.

The prayer of the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in the Anglican Cathedral Church of St. George the Martyr, Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Credit: Marinella Bandini

Archbishop of Canterbury arrives in Holy Land, joins church leaders in prayer for peace

Oct 20, 2023 / 16:30 pm

Following an explosion at Al Ahli Anglican Hospital and an airstrike that hit St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church today, Christian leaders gathered to pray.

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. Credit: Marinella Brandini

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

Oct 18, 2023 / 16:00 pm

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, religious leaders spoke to the press about the explosion at the Anglican hospital “Al Ahli” in Gaza that killed hundreds of civilians.

Local Christians pray the rosary during a prayer service hosted by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in St. Saviour's Church, Jerusalem. Credit: Marinella Bandini

Praying for peace: Franciscans hold special prayer services in Jerusalem

Oct 16, 2023 / 14:13 pm

This past weekend, Franciscan friars joined with other religious and laypeople to pray for peace in the Holy Land one week after war broke out between Israel and Hamas.

Daily procession of the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land (Calvary, Latin Chapel), Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem. Oct. 9, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini

In the Holy Land, Franciscans are keeping doors to holy sites open — for now

Oct 11, 2023 / 11:25 am

Jerusalem is semi-deserted, with many shops, schools, and offices closed, but the Custody of the Holy Land has kept holy sites open for visitors and pilgrims.

The new Bishop Hanna Jallouf, OFM, walks down the center aisle of St. Francis Church in Aleppo, Syrian, after his episcopal ordination, Sept. 17, 2023. Credit: Photo courtesy of TAWK CENTRE

Franciscan friar in Syria becomes bishop of Latin-rite Catholics in Aleppo 

Sep 18, 2023 / 14:23 pm

On Sunday, Sept. 17, Father Hanna Jallouf, OFM, was ordained a bishop and became apostolic vicar of Aleppo for the Latins in Aleppo, Syria.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Credit: Jorge Lascar via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

New discoveries may change what we know about Jerusalem’s Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher

Sep 17, 2023 / 07:00 am

Ongoing archaeological investigations have now allowed scientists to trace “the entire material history of the religious complex.”