Jerusalem received the new custodian of Holy Land

Jerusalem He received the new Santa Tierra custodianwith a solemn procession through the door of Jaffa and a visit to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher.

This is Fray Francesco Ielpo, who was elected a few weeks ago as the new provincial minister of the minor friars living throughout the Middle East, and confirmed in office For Pope Leo XIV on June 24.

According to him Christian Media Center (CMC), an instrument of communication of the custody of the Holy Land, Fray Iielpo solemnly entered the old city of Jerusalem on the old city by the door of Jaffa, historically reserved “to diplomats and kings”, to officially assume his position as a custodian of the Holy Land.

There they were waiting for him, in addition to his Franciscan brothers, representatives of local churches and numerous diplomatic authorities from different countries. From there, following the tradition, the delegation marched in procession to the church of San Salvador, singing the Te Deum.

At the doors of the temple, Fray Iielo was covered with the stole and the cross. He taught his blessing with blessed water and entered the Church, where the general visitor of Custody, Fray Albejzy Sławomir Warot, read the appointment decree signed by the Minister General of the Order, Fray Massimo Fusarelli.

Subsequently, Fray Iielo lent oath by placing his hand on the gospels and received the seal of the custody of Fray Francesco Patton, custodian of outgoing Holy Land, thus consuming the transfer of responsibilities.

“It is very beautiful for what it represents: in our seal there are two scenes that refer to the Holy Cenacle. In the lower half of the seal, Jesus washes the feet to the disciples, and at the top, Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit over the apostles, gathered in the Cenacle with Mary,” said Fray Patton.

For outgoing custodian, this is a special way to ask the new custodian to continue the service to the most needy, along with his Franciscan brothers, being docile to the Holy Spirit to carry out the mission that the Church has entrusted to them.

Going to the Assembly gathered in the Church, Fray ielpo thanked his presence, declaring that he felt like St. Peter, being called by Jesus to do something unexpected.

“Life is a vocation. The Lord Jesus never stops calling us. At every moment and in every circumstance of our existence, the teacher goes out to meet us, calling us the unexpected and the humanly impossible,” he said.

“In the storm that crosses Holy Land, I feel the need to keep the look fixed on Jesus. Not an abstract Jesus, but that Jesus that I can recognize in the sacraments and in the faces of so many brothers and sisters of the Holy Land that carry the features of poor and crucified Christ,” added the new custodian.

After the speech, the new custodian hugged his brothers present.

Fray Iielo visited the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher on Friday, where he prayed on his knees in front of the stone of the anointing.