Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa

While living in accordance with Gospel values can be seen as “countercultural and sometimes even counterproductive,” the pope said, it is the right path.

“After death, there is the resurrection,” Father Romanelli said. “Death is just a passage and that is why happiness and joy must be experienced on Easter.”

Holy Week in the Holy Land is unfolding in unprecedented silence, as war-related restrictions have left sacred sites largely without the faithful. 

Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Franciscan Custos Father Francesco Ielpo gave an annual pre-Easter press conference on March 31. 

An agreement has been reached after Israeli authorities initially barred Church leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday. 

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and Father Francesco Ielpo, the custos of the Holy Land, were prevented from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher by Israeli …

“This conflict has religious connotations, but they are manipulations: those who wish to bring religion into it exploit the name of God.”

“What we felt is the desire to return to life. So they want to talk about the future, our community” amid Christmas celebrations and questions about the future.

In a sign of closeness as Christmas approaches, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Latin Patriarchal Vicar Bishop William Shomali and a small delegation, arrived in …

“We don’t have bombs every day, but the vast majority of the infrastructure is destroyed. … People are living in tents without anything.”