The Holy Father, Pope Francis has sent a letter to the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, OFM, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the presence of the Franciscans in that land.
The letter was entrusted to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, His Eminence, Leonardo Sandri, who is visiting in the Holy Land from 16 to 21 October as part of the celebrations of the anniversary. His Eminence read the text of the Holy Father's letter during the solemn celebration which took place this morning in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Jerusalem.
Reverend Father Francesco Patton, OFM
Custos of the Holy Land
I am pleased to learn of your Custody's desire to celebrate the important and joyful occasion of the 800th anniversary of the presence of Franciscans in the Holy Land with numerous religious, pastoral and cultural initiatives, all in an effort to rediscover the overwhelming contribution of the friars of the rope - as you have been nicknamed - in the places where the Son of God was made flesh and lived among us (cf Jn 1:14). On this occasion, I am happy to send a special greeting to you and to all the brothers who have kept the Christian witness alive, continue the study of the Scriptures and welcome pilgrims.
The seraphic Father Francis, in the Chapter held at Pentecost in may 1217, opened the Order to the missionary and universal dimension, sending his brothers to all nations as witnesses of faith, fraternity and peace, and thus the Province of the Holy Land - which was initially known as Overseas or Syria - was created. This enlarging of the horizon of evangelization was the beginning of an extraordinary adventure, which - eight hundred years ago - brought the first Friars Minor to the land of Acri, where on 11 June of this year, you began your centenary celebrations by renewing your faithfulness to the call of Jesus, in fidelity to the gospel and to the Church.
Assiduous in contemplation and prayer, simple and poor, obedient to the Bishop of Rome, you are also committed at present to living in the Holy Land alongside brothers from different cultures, ethnicities and religions, sowing the seeds of peace, fraternity and respect. Everyone is aware of your willingness to accompany the footsteps of pilgrims from every corner of the world through your welcome and guidance. You have dedicated yourselves to researching archaeological evidence and to attentively studying Sacred Scripture, treasuring the famous affirmation of Saint Jerome, who for many years lived as a hermit in Bethlehem: Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ himself (Comm. in Is., Prol.: PL 24,17).
I would not want to forget, in addition to the custody and animation of the Shrines, your commitment to the service of the local ecclesial community. I encourage you to continue joyfully in supporting these brothers of ours, especially the poor and the weak; in educating the youth - who sometimes risk loosing hope in a context that is still without peace -; in welcoming the elderly and caring for the infirm, thus living tangibly the works of mercy every day.
Uniting myself with my venerable Predecessors, beginning with Clement VI, who with his Bull entitled Gratias agimus, confided the custody of the Holy Sites to your care, I wish to renew your mandate, encouraging you to be joyous witnesses of the Risen Christ in the Holy Land.
You are ambassadors of the entire People of God, who has always freely supported you, especially through the Collection for the Holy Land, which helps to make faith visible through your work in the Land of Jesus. In particular, the Congregation for Oriental Churches - who is also celebrating an important anniversary in these days - supports you in the name of the Successor of Peter.
Finally, I want to recall the words of your Founder: I counsel then, I warn and exhort my brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ, that when they go out to the world, they do not quarrel and demonstrate disputes through their words and do not judge others; but be meek, passive and modest, gentle and humble, speaking honestly with everyone, as is fitting (Rule, 3, 10-11: FF 85).
I confide the Custody of the Holy Land, each one of your communities and all the Friars to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary and, while invoking the intercession of your holy patron Anthony of Padua, I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican
17 October 2017
Francis
The letter was entrusted to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, His Eminence, Leonardo Sandri, who is visiting in the Holy Land from 16 to 21 October as part of the celebrations of the anniversary. His Eminence read the text of the Holy Father's letter during the solemn celebration which took place this morning in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Jerusalem.
Letter of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the 800th anniversary of the presence
of the Franciscans in the Holy Land
Reverend Father Francesco Patton, OFM
Custos of the Holy Land
I am pleased to learn of your Custody's desire to celebrate the important and joyful occasion of the 800th anniversary of the presence of Franciscans in the Holy Land with numerous religious, pastoral and cultural initiatives, all in an effort to rediscover the overwhelming contribution of the friars of the rope - as you have been nicknamed - in the places where the Son of God was made flesh and lived among us (cf Jn 1:14). On this occasion, I am happy to send a special greeting to you and to all the brothers who have kept the Christian witness alive, continue the study of the Scriptures and welcome pilgrims.
The seraphic Father Francis, in the Chapter held at Pentecost in may 1217, opened the Order to the missionary and universal dimension, sending his brothers to all nations as witnesses of faith, fraternity and peace, and thus the Province of the Holy Land - which was initially known as Overseas or Syria - was created. This enlarging of the horizon of evangelization was the beginning of an extraordinary adventure, which - eight hundred years ago - brought the first Friars Minor to the land of Acri, where on 11 June of this year, you began your centenary celebrations by renewing your faithfulness to the call of Jesus, in fidelity to the gospel and to the Church.
Assiduous in contemplation and prayer, simple and poor, obedient to the Bishop of Rome, you are also committed at present to living in the Holy Land alongside brothers from different cultures, ethnicities and religions, sowing the seeds of peace, fraternity and respect. Everyone is aware of your willingness to accompany the footsteps of pilgrims from every corner of the world through your welcome and guidance. You have dedicated yourselves to researching archaeological evidence and to attentively studying Sacred Scripture, treasuring the famous affirmation of Saint Jerome, who for many years lived as a hermit in Bethlehem: Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ himself (Comm. in Is., Prol.: PL 24,17).
I would not want to forget, in addition to the custody and animation of the Shrines, your commitment to the service of the local ecclesial community. I encourage you to continue joyfully in supporting these brothers of ours, especially the poor and the weak; in educating the youth - who sometimes risk loosing hope in a context that is still without peace -; in welcoming the elderly and caring for the infirm, thus living tangibly the works of mercy every day.
Uniting myself with my venerable Predecessors, beginning with Clement VI, who with his Bull entitled Gratias agimus, confided the custody of the Holy Sites to your care, I wish to renew your mandate, encouraging you to be joyous witnesses of the Risen Christ in the Holy Land.
You are ambassadors of the entire People of God, who has always freely supported you, especially through the Collection for the Holy Land, which helps to make faith visible through your work in the Land of Jesus. In particular, the Congregation for Oriental Churches - who is also celebrating an important anniversary in these days - supports you in the name of the Successor of Peter.
Finally, I want to recall the words of your Founder: I counsel then, I warn and exhort my brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ, that when they go out to the world, they do not quarrel and demonstrate disputes through their words and do not judge others; but be meek, passive and modest, gentle and humble, speaking honestly with everyone, as is fitting (Rule, 3, 10-11: FF 85).
I confide the Custody of the Holy Land, each one of your communities and all the Friars to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary and, while invoking the intercession of your holy patron Anthony of Padua, I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican
17 October 2017
Francis
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