HOLY LAND – On Thursday, November 5, 2020, His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa was received at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem upon his return from Rome after his appointment as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Earlier, a delegation composed of bishops, priests and parishioners was waiting for the new patriarch at the airport. It included Bishop Boulos Marcuzzo, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Fr. Francesco Patton, as well as some Latin Patriarchate priests and the parish priest of Ramleh Fr. Abdel Masih Fahim and his parishioners who came waving flags of the Vatican and bearing flowers for their patriarch.
Upon returning to Jerusalem, the new patriarch was welcomed by the Arab Catholic Scout playing their instruments at Jaffa Gate, after which he was accompanied by the gathered crowd towards the Co-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate for a prayer and the singing of the Te Deum.
Before blessing the crowd, Patriarch Pizzaballa said: “We put our will in the Will of God, under the protection of Virgin Mary Queen of Palestine. She will protect us all, our Church and this new beginning of service in the Church of Jerusalem.”
Archbishop Pizzaballa was appointed as the new Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem by Pope Francis on October 24, after 4 years as the Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate. Four days later, the Roman Pontiff bestowed the “Pallium” on His Beatitude.
Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
