New Custos for the Holy Land

Father Francesco Patton is the new Custos of the Holy Land.  He succeeds Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa who has guided the Custody of the Holy Land for the last twelve years.

Father Patton was named by the Governor General of the Order of Friars Minor and approved by the Holy See according to the established norms of the Pontifical Statutes pertaining to these Franciscan Entities.

Father Francesco Patton, was born in Vigo Meano, in the Diocese of Trento on 23 December 1963, and is part of the Saint Anthony of the Friars Minor Province of Northern Italy.  In addition to Italian, he speaks English and Spanish.

He took first religious vows on 7 September 1983 and solemn vows on 4 October 1986.  He was ordained a priest on 26 May 1989.  In 1993, he was granted a licence in Communication Sciences from the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.

He has held various offices within his Province of origin and within the Order.  Twice, he was named Secretary General for the General Chapter of the Order of Friars Minor (2003 and 2009), Visitator General (2003), Provincial Minister for the Saint Vigilio Province in Trento (2008-2016), and President of the Conference of Provincial Ministers of Italy and Albania (COMPI, 2010-2013).

He also received numerous assignments outside the Order: Member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council and of the Secretariat of the same Diocesan Presbyteral Council for the Archdiocese of Trento;  Professor of Social Communication Sciences at the Technological Academy of Trento; Contributor to the Diocesan Weekly newspaper; the Diocesan radio station and Telepace Trento.  In 1991, he was included among the journalists of Trento and granted the status of Alto Adige as a publisher.