CYPRUS – From September 3- 8, 2021, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa made his first pastoral visit as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to the Latin Community in the four parishes of Cyprus, namely Larnaca, Nicosia, Paphos and Limassol. A visit to Kyrenia was also on the program.

In Larnaca, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem paid visits to the parish of St. Mary of Graces and the Terra Santa Rest House, which is a retirement home for elderly women run by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. In the evening, and after celebrating Mass at the parish, the Patriarch met the parish council and other representatives.

On September 4, Patriarch Pizzaballa had several meetings with the Religious Men and Women in Nicosia. He met with the Sri Lankan Sisters and Fr. Jerzy Kraj, his Patriarchal Vicar in Cyprus as well as some priests and the Parish Council. He also took part in the welcoming ceremony of H.E. Selim Sfeir, who was installed as the new Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus the following day. Later in the afternoon, the Bishop of Jerusalem met with some Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and Msgr. George Panamthundil, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature.

In Kyrenia, and with the laying on of his hands, anointing with oil and making the sign of peace, the Patriarch administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to one of the parishioners, a Nigerian national who is studying at the University of Kyrenia.

In Paphos, Patriarch Pizzaballa visited the Metropolitan Georgios of Paphos and then stopped by the Archangel Michael Hospice in Mesa Chorio, a facility that was inaugurated by the Paphos parish six years ago and which offers free palliative care for patients with cancer and other life-limiting diseases. A Holy Mass was then celebrated at Agia Kyriaki Church and Chrysopolitissa Basilica. The next day, the Patriarch met with Archbishop Chrysostomos II of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus.

In Limassol, and after visiting the Franciscan Sisters St. Mary School, Patriarch Pizzaballa met with Mrs. Antonella Mantovani, Representative of the Latin Community of Cyprus as well as Fr. Andrew Verdot and Fr. Peter Ashton. A meeting also took place with the Parish Council and the representatives of the parish group. In the evening, a Holy Mass was celebrated at St. Catherine Church.

On the final day, Patriarch Pizzaballa visited Terra Santa College in Nicosia, where he was welcomed by the staff, teachers and students. The rest of the day was dedicated to several meetings which included a meeting with Archbishop Joseph Soueif of the Maronite Church and the predecessor of Archbishop Selim Sfeir, the Latin priests, the staff of Caritas Migrant Centre and memebers of the Neocatechumenal Way. The visit concluded with a Holy Mass at the Holy Cross Catholic Church.

Confirmation in Kyrenia