Holy Land

The Latest

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

Israel-Gaza conflict: Patriarch Pizzaballa asks Catholics to pray for peace and justice

May 18, 2021

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem issued the appeal as the death toll mounts in the Holy Land. Read more

U.S. bishops pray for peace as Israel-Hamas conflict rages

May 13, 2021

The U.S. bishops’ conference offered prayers for peace in the Holy Land on Thursday, as conflict between Israel and Hamas... Read more

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

At Easter Sunday Mass, Patriarch Pizzaballa tells Holy Land Christians ‘nothing is impossible’

Apr 5, 2021

On Easter Sunday, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem urged Christians in the Holy Land to take courage and believe that... Read more

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox monastery on the Jordan River in the West Bank. Credit: Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida (CC BY 2.0)

Franciscan friars return to site of Christ's baptism after 50 years

Jan 10, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

For the first time in over 54 years, the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land were able... Read more

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, pictured before his appointment as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Credit: Cristian Gennari/OESSH.

Patriarch Pizzaballa: Clericalism is 'very evident' in Holy Land

Jan 4, 2021

By CNA Staff

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has said that clericalism is “very evident” in the Holy Land. Read more

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa prays in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem Dec. 4, 2020. Screenshot from livestream

Patriarch Pizzaballa makes solemn entry into the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

Dec 4, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa made a solemn entry into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Friday as the new Latin Patriarch... Read more

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa visits Stella Maris Monastery on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. Photos: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Patriarch Pizzaballa entrusts new mission to prayer of contemplative orders

Nov 24, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa has entrusted his new mission as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to the prayer of contemplative religious orders... Read more

Pope Francis bestows the pallium on newly appointed Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa Oct. 28, 2020.

Pope Francis bestows pallium on new Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Oct 28, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis on Wednesday bestowed the pallium on the newly appointed Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.  Read more

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Pope Francis names new Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Oct 24, 2020

Pope Francis named Italian Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa as the new Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Saturday.  Read more

Caption: Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

‘The Holy Land changed my life:’ Archbishop Pizzaballa on 30 years in Jerusalem

Oct 22, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa has concluded his four-year mandate as apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.  Read more

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Bishop in Israel says schools are incubating anti-Christian intolerance

Mar 20, 2020

A bishop in Israel has renewed a call for educational leaders to address “bigoted attitudes” in the teaching of young... Read more

A courtyard at the Church of the Nativity stands empty amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus in the Holy Land: How Catholics in the Jerusalem patriarchate are coping

Mar 20, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

As Easter is approaching, the Holy Land is enduring tough times: the sacred sites are shut down because of the... Read more

Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Old City of Jerusalem.

Pilgrimages canceled as new Israeli quarantine comes into effect

Mar 12, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

New Israeli quarantine measures, in effect from Thursday, have led to cancelled trips to the Holy Land, with some pilgrims... Read more

Sunrise in Bethlehem city.

For Gaza Christians, no Christmas travels to Bethlehem and Jerusalem

Dec 13, 2019

Church leaders in Jerusalem are appealing to Israeli authorities to reverse a decision that prohibits the Christmastime travel permits that... Read more

The Basilica of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor in Israel.

Forest fire in Israel endangers Basilica of the Transfiguration

Jul 26, 2019

A forest fire in the northern region of Israel is threatening the Basilica of the Transfiguration of Christ, according to... Read more

Children amid destroyed buildings in Gaza.

CRS welcomes senators' call for humanitarian funding to West Bank, Gaza

Apr 17, 2019

Catholic Relief Services was among 18 organizations that have welcomed the introduction of a Senate Resolution calling on the Trump... Read more

Newborn babies at the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem. Photo: Courtesy of  Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation

There's room for newborn babies at Bethlehem's Catholic hospital

Dec 20, 2018

By Kevin J. Jones

A half mile away from the Nativity Church, the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem also strives to be a special... Read more

Jordan River flowing to the Dead Sea.

Site of Baptism of the Lord nears reopening as landmines cleared

Dec 10, 2018

Churches at the site along the banks of the Jordan river where Jesus is believed to have been baptized could... Read more

Why the Holy Land is the 'fifth gospel' of Christianity

Nov 7, 2018

By Kevin J. Jones

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a powerful journey that can ignite Christian faith through seeing the places Jesus walked,... Read more