Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and representative of Pope Francis in the Holy Land, undertook a pastoral visit to the Arab Catholic community at Our Lady of the Ridge Church on Saturday, January 27, 2024. The anticipated event drew over 400 Arab Catholics, along with the attendance of archdiocesan bishops, clergy, and esteemed members of the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre.

During his visit to Our Lady of the Ridge Church, Cardinal Pizzaballa engaged with the Our Lady of the Holy Land community, a group dedicated to serving Arab Catholics. The community had been congregating at the church for over a year, with periodic visits from priests sent by the Latin Patriarchate of the Holy Land. In December 2023, Reverend Wissam Mansour of Jordan arrived from the Holy Land to fulfill a five-year tenure in the community. On December 3, he officiated his inaugural Mass as the resident priest, marking a significant moment in the community’s spiritual journey.

During his visit, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem spoke to the media calling again for a ceasefire in Palestine and reminding the world of the same calls for a ceasefire by Pope Francis. See below

From the Latin Patriarchate website

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