Last night, at the St. Francis Room of the Custody of the Holy Land, the Father Custos, Brother Pierbattista Pizzaballa met two groups of pilgrims. The Custody has always welcomed pilgrims from all over the world. This attention to universality is shown by the fact that, although the official languages of the Order are Italian, Spanish and English, the 300 friars or so present in the Holy Land, come from 48 different countries.
When his many engagements allow him, the Father Custos is always pleased to receive groups of pilgrims on appointments. Yesterday it was the turn of two groups of Italian pilgrims: the first group of 30 from the diocese of Chiavari, led by the head of the diocesan department for pilgrimages, sport and leisure time, Don Fabio Mazzino; the second was a group from the Opera Diocesana Pellegrinaggi of Turin, led by Don Sergio Messina, with 54 pilgrims. The Custos answered the pilgrims’ questions which covered a wide range of subjects, speaking about the local Church, the situation of the Christians in the Middle East, life her as Christians, the good that has been done and the good that still remains to be done, trying to overcome falsehoods and clichés that are of no help to the peace process in a land which needs peace so much.
Photos and article by Marco Gavasso
When his many engagements allow him, the Father Custos is always pleased to receive groups of pilgrims on appointments. Yesterday it was the turn of two groups of Italian pilgrims: the first group of 30 from the diocese of Chiavari, led by the head of the diocesan department for pilgrimages, sport and leisure time, Don Fabio Mazzino; the second was a group from the Opera Diocesana Pellegrinaggi of Turin, led by Don Sergio Messina, with 54 pilgrims. The Custos answered the pilgrims’ questions which covered a wide range of subjects, speaking about the local Church, the situation of the Christians in the Middle East, life her as Christians, the good that has been done and the good that still remains to be done, trying to overcome falsehoods and clichés that are of no help to the peace process in a land which needs peace so much.
Photos and article by Marco Gavasso