Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Twal retires, Apostolic
Administrator appointed
(Vatican Radio) His
Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of His Beatitude Patriarch
Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem who reached the age of 75 for
retirement last October. The Pope has elevated to Archbishop Franciscan
Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, former Custos of the Holy Land for twelve
years, and appointed him as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of
the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He will hold the position until the
appointment of a new Patriarch.
In a statement posted on its online site, the Latin
Patriarchate of Jerusalem said “The Bishops, clergy and faithful of the Latin
Patriarchate sincerely thank His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal who has just
completed his mission, and welcome the Apostolic Administrator with best wishes
in his new mission. The entire Diocese joins in prayer for the intentions
of the Patriarch Emeritus and the new Apostolic Administrator.”
The Episcopal Ordination of
Father Pizzaballa will take place in September.
Patriarch Twal, born in
Jordan, succeeded Palestine native Michel Sabbah as the Latin Patriarch of
Jerusalem on 21 June 2008. He was enthroned at the Basilica of the Holy
Sepulcher in Jerusalem the following day.
On 29 June 2008, Patriarch
Twal received the pallium at the hands of Pope Benedict XVI at a Mass in Saint
Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Former Franciscan Custos
becomes Apostolic Administrator of Latin Patriarchate
From northern Italy, Pierbattista Pizzaballa was ordained priest on 15
September 1990. After spending one year in Rome, he was transferred to
the Holy Land, in Jerusalem, in October 1990.
In July 1999 he formally
entered in service to the Custody of the Holy Land. In 1995 he was
responsible for the publication of the Roman Missal in Hebrew, and translated
various liturgical texts in Hebrew for the Catholic Communities in Israel. He
lectured Hebrew at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum. He covered the role of
Vicar General of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem for the pastoral care of
Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel. Since 2008 he is a Consultor in the
Commission for relations with Judaism of the Pontifical Council for the
Promotion of Unity among Christians.
He was elected Custos of the
Holy Land in 2004 and was repeatedly confirmed in that position until he
stepped down last April.
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