Pope confirms Brother Francesco Patton as Custos of the Holy Land

• Published date: 30 April 2022
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

He has been serving for six years already and this confirmation extends his term another three years. The confirmation took place in the refectory of St. Savior's Convent. The pope confirmed the election

"I interpret my service first and foremost as a service to the friars," Patton said in a video that was shared by the Christian Media Center. "I am a friar and my first task as Custos is to take care of the life and vocation of the friars of the Custody."

cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: '36af7c51-0caf-4741-9824-2c941fc6c17b' }).render('4c4d856e0e6f4e3d808bbc1715e132f6'); });

>

The territory of the Custody includes not only Israel and the Palestinian territories, but also Syria, Jordan, Cyprus and Rhodes and Egypt. Key roles include guarding most of the places of the Incarnation of Jesus and welcoming Christian pilgrims. The Custody is also the intermediary in matters regarding the Status Quo.

Patton, 58, was born in Italy and moved to Israel in 2016 to become the 168th Custos of the Holy Land.

"There are so many things that we have started in the course of these six years. And in the course of these six years we have been able to conclude important things that were started earlier...