On February 17, the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, visited the Grotto of the Nativity together with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, to verify the progress of the restoration works underway in the place that Christian tradition venerates as the site of the birth of Jesus. The works, entrusted to the Italian [...]
Preserving the site of Christ's birth JerusalemJanuary 23, 2026 The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land announce the imminent commencement of restoration works in the Grotto of the Nativity, the hallowed site revered across Christendom as the place of the Incarnation. This joint undertaking together with the brotherly cooperation of [...]
Pope Leo XIV proclaims a Franciscan Jubilee Year for the 800th anniversary of the Transit of St. Francis On January 10, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV established the ππππ« π¨π ππ. π π«ππ§ππ’π¬ π¨π ππ¬π¬π’π¬π’ on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the saintβs Transitus to Heaven. The initiative was proclaimed through a Decree issued by [...]
After nearly two years of an almost complete absence of pilgrims in the Holy Land, Fr. David Wathen, Director of the Pilgrimage Office at the Franciscan Monastery, has finally led a group of American faithful to the sacred sites where Our Lord walked and ministered. As the situation in the region shows encouraging signs of greater [...]
Washington, D.C. β The Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, OFM, visited the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C., marking his first trip to the United States since assuming his role in 2025. His visit coincided with the 15th Annual Holy Land Gala, where he awarded the Grato Animo Medal to Bishop Paul Loverde of [...]