Parish Priest in the Holy Land: "In our parishes there are Christians of Eastern rites, Protestants, Jews and Muslims who honor Mary".- (OSV News / Judith Sudilovsky)
As he prepared to leave his post as Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land after nine years of service, Father Francesco Patton told OSV News that his time in the Holy Land as superior of all Middle Eastern Franciscans and guardian of the region's Catholic holy sites has been the most important "formative" experience of his life, and has "pushed him to dream" of a world without borders.
"They have opened me up in a very significant way on a mental and spiritual level," Father Patton wrote in an email correspondence, as he completed some final tasks before the arrival of his successor, Father Francesco Ielpo, whose election was approved by the Pope Leo XIV June 24.
"Internationality, encounters and dialogue with people of other religions and cultures have changed me profoundly and pushed me to dream of a world where there are no more walls, checkpoints, borders and the like; a world where people recognize and accept each other as human persons, not on the basis of other requirements," he said.
Following the example of St. Francis
His experience also reinforced his commitment to a pacifist interpretation of the Franciscan mission, Father Patton said, acknowledging that those who came to the Holy Land in peace, following the example of St. Francis and his friars have endured, while those who came with weapons have ultimately failed.
Throughout his tenure, Father Patton has faced major challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the virtual paralysis of pilgrimages to the Holy Land and - for the past 20 months - the Gaza war, precipitated by Hamas' attack on communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
According to the latest figures provided by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 22, 2025, 50 of the more than 250 people abducted that day remain captive, 28 of whom are believed to be still alive. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 57,600 Palestinians had been killed as of July 8.
Since July 10, hopes for a U.S.-led cease-fire plan have faded as fighting in Gaza has shown no sign of abating while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump in Washington on July 8. "Netanyahu is adamant that Hamas must be destroyed, while Hamas wants a complete end to the war after the proposed 60-day truce," The Associated Press reported.
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Father Patton expressed his hope that a political solution to the 80-year Palestinian-Israeli conflict will be found, and stressed that such a solution requires "mutual recognition of each side's right to exist," the development of a state structure appropriate to the unique circumstances of the region, and full recognition of the civil, political and religious rights of all citizens, including Palestinians, according to the standards of a "truly civilized and democratic country."
He regretted not having been able to carry out several initiatives aimed at promoting peace, intercultural dialogue and interfaith understanding due to the outbreak of war.
"We were on a good path with many initiatives, but what happened on October 7, 2023, unleashed such hatred and created such physical, psychological and spiritual obstacles that many initiatives were put on hold," he said.
He added: "I hope that they can resume as soon as possible and that we can continue to cooperate towards a culture of reconciliation, fraternity and dialogue, according to the indications given to us by Pope Francis in the Abu Dhabi document and in 'Fratelli Tutti'," he said, referring to the 2019 document on "Human Fraternity for World Peace and Coexistence" and the late Pope's 2020 encyclical on human fraternity.
The "great testimony of faith" of the friars
He also regretted not being able to visit the villages of Knayeh and Yacoubieh, in Syria's Orontes Valley, during his visit to Syria in March 2023 after the earthquake - which devastated northern and western Syria, as well as southern and central Turkey - where the friars continue to give a "great witness of faith and pastoral dedication" in a reality affected by the presence of the Islamic State group and Al Qaeda, he said.
On June 22, a deadly shooting and bombing attack on St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus killed 30 Orthodox Christians and injured more than 90 others.
Witnessing the dedication and love for the Holy Land shown by most of the friars has been one of his greatest pleasures, Father Patton said. Reflecting on the Custody, he expressed his special joy at its increasingly international character, especially the growing presence of friars and postulants from Asia and Africa, regions previously underrepresented.
Ethnic and cultural conflicts
This diversity, he noted, reinforces its mission to welcome local Christians, pilgrims and migrant workers in a region often marked by ethnic and cultural conflicts.
He recognized the unwavering dedication of the friars, even in difficult times, and praised the growth of the Holy Land schools, which have become a model of coexistence and academic excellence, he said.
Father Patton also highlighted the restoration of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem as a significant achievement during his tenure, made possible through close ecumenical collaboration with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Armenian Apostolic Patriarch Archbishop Nourhan Manougian.
The "concrete dimension" of the Holy Land
Spiritually, the possibility of praying in the places of the Gospel while touching the "concrete dimension" of the Holy Land allowed him to deepen and reinforce his belief in the mystery of the Incarnation, where the "Son of God became one of us" and shared everything in human existence, he wrote. It allowed him to think of Jesus in a more "personal, concrete and historical" way.
"In particular, the tomb of Jesus has allowed me to reflect deeply on the mystery of his resurrection and ours, as an entry into the very life of God with our humanity transformed by the action of the Spirit, guided by the hand of Jesus who first crossed the border of resurrection," said Father Patton.
He leaves with an overriding feeling of "gratitude and thankfulness", aware that these years have been the "most significant season" of his life, he concluded, although there is also a "feeling of bitterness", as he would have liked to see the Holy Land at peace before ending his service.
This article was originally published in OSV News. You can read the original text HERE.
