Leo XIV appoints the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Cardinal of Iran for the Interreligious Office of Dialogue

Pope Leo XIV appointed two prominent cardinals, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Dominique Mathieu, Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahán (Iran), as members of the Dicasteria for the interreligious dialogue of the Vatican.

His appointment is in the middle of a wide reorganization that also incorporated Cardinals from Japan and Canada, as well as bishops and experts with experience in promoting relations between religions.

Both new members are already active in the Vatican circles: Cardinal Pizzaballa is also part of the organisms for the Eastern Churches and the unity of Christians, while Mons. Mathieu integrates the dicastery for the causes of the saints.

A little over two weeks ago, both Cardinals prayed for peace while violence would climb between Iran and Israelwith the air attacks of the latter against Iran’s military and nuclear facilities.

Cardinal Pizzaballa

In October 2020, Pope Francis appointed the Italian archbishop as the new patriarch of Jerusalem of Latinos in the Holy Land.

Mons. Pizzaballa since 2016 as an apostolic administrator of Jerusalem, when the headquarters that serves about 300 thousand Catholics in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus, was vacant.

The 60 -year -old patriarch has lived in the Holy Land since 1990 and speaks Italian, Hebrew and English.

The Archbishop of Tehran

Cardinal Mathieu, born in Belgium in 1963, is a member of the Order of the Conventual smaller friars. He has held various positions within his order in Europe and the Middle East, highlighting his work as a trainer, provincial minister and rector of sanctuaries.

Since 2013 he has been incardinated in the provincial custody of the East and Holy Land. He was appointed Archbishop in 2023 and created Cardinal by Pope Francis in December 2024, also being a member of the Dicastery for the causes of the saints.