Local Church

From November 4–6, 2025, the Association of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL) held its plenary meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus. Hosted by the Latin Vicariate of Cyprus, the gathering brought together bishops, vicars, and religious leaders from across the region, joined by representatives of the Apostolic Nunciatures in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Amman, and Nicosia.

On Friday (28.02), the Church of the Baptism of Christ (Al-Maghtas) in Jordan witnessed a historic and joyous occasion as Monsignor Iyad Twal was ordained as the new Patriarchal Vicar. The solemn ceremony was presided over by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

On Saturday (28.09), the annual Migrants’ Day event took place, at the Notre Dame Center. We publish the homily of Patriarchal Vicar, H.E. Bishop Rafik Nahra.

The Association of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (AOCTS) gathered together on Monday and Tuesday (28-29.10) in the Latin Patriarchate.

Last Saturday (March 16th) fr. Bruno Varriano was ordained as an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Jerusalem. Fr. Piotr and Fr. Roman participated in the event as the representatives of St. James Vicariate.

Today (09.01) Pope Francis nominated fr. Bruno Variano a new auxiliary bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Fr. Bruno is a Patriarchal Vicar of Cyprus.

The Christmas Mass in the birthplace of Jesus gathers every year the attention of the world. This Christmas the Vicar of St. James (Fr. Piotr) concelebrated the Eucharist in Bethlehem.

Association of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land announced the Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation. All the faithful are invited to fast on Tuesday (October 17th). We present the letter of ACOHL signed by His Eminence Cardinal Pizzaballa in the name of all the members.

The Latin Patriarch of the Jerusalem, Cardinal-designate Pierbattista Pizzaballa, speaks about his recent appointment as Cardinal by Pope Francis, calling it a recognition of the vocation to universality and dialogue of the Holy Land.

His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem was elevated to the rank of a Cardinal. His Holiness Pope Francis announced the names of the new Cardinals on Sunday (July 9th), during the Prayer of Angelus in Rome. Pope Francis announced a consistory for the creation of new cardinals from around the world to be held at the Vatican on 30 September 2023.

On Thursday, March 16, shots were fired at the school and the convent of the Franciscan Sisters in Nazareth by unknown persons. The Christian community in Israel, in shock, asks the Israeli government to guarantee security for the educational institutions.

On Saturday (March, 18th) in the historical church of St. Joseph at Kikar Paris in Haifa the solemn Eucharist was celebrated.

On March 14-15th, 2023, a meeting of the Association of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land took place at the Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem.

Guy Pio Maria who was recently baptized in Kehilat Yaffo gives us his testimony about how he became a Christian and finally became a seminarian in the Order of Verbo Incarnato.

On Friday, February 17th, 2023, the Continental Synodal Assembly of Catholic Churches in the Middle East concluded its conference, which was held from February 13th to 17th, in Lebanon. At the end of the meeting, the following statement was issued:

This year, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in his letter of January 6th, proposed for the whole Local Church to read in its entirety the Gospel of Luke during Lent, and the Acts of the Apostles during Easter. In addition to the Scripture to be read during Lenten prayers, and Sunday Mass. This will enable us in attaining a greater knowledge of the Good News and in particularly the Book of Acts, during the season of Easter.

The meeting of the Latin Bishops of the Middle East took place in Beirut.

The celebration for the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the Day of Consecrated Life held in the co-cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (02.02) began with a procession of lit candles, a symbol of Jesus, the light of the world.

Dr Alida Solomis passed away in October 2022. Here is a testimony of her life sent to us by fr. Pietro from the Carmelite Monastery in Mukhraqa.

From January 18th to January 25th, 2023 (January 21st to 29th in Jerusalem) the Christians of the world will come together to pray for the unity of the Churches and attend jointly organized ecumenical celebrations all over the world. On this occasion, Latin Patriarchate Media Team presents each day the testimonies and thoughts of some of them, who live in the Holy Land.