The Custody of the Holy Land celebrated with solemnity the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi and the liturgical feast of the Saint, patron of Italy, with two intense moments of prayer and communion, the vespers of October 3 and the Eucharistic celebration of October 4.

The Transitus of the Seraphic Father

On the evening of Friday, October 3, in the Church of Saint Saviour in Jerusalem, the Franciscan community, religious and faithful gathered for the solemn vespers of the Transitus. The liturgy was presided over by Br. Francesco Ielpo, custos of the Holy Land, who offered a reflection centered on Franciscan fidelity and on the meaning of the renewal of religious vows.

In his message, Br. Francesco recalled the image of Saint Francis as "support for the house of God", not an abstract project but a concrete, daily fidelity, lived in obedience to the Gospel and in fraternity. The custos addressed in particular his words to the 35 friars who on that occasion renewed their religious profession, reminding them that the strength of the Church does not come from strategies or structures, but from the evangelical life incarnated and witnessed day after day.

The feast of October 4

On the following day, Saturday, October 4, the Custody celebrated the solemnity of Saint Francis with the Holy Mass, presided over by the prior of the Dominican École Biblique of Jerusalem, Father Martin Staszak. Together with the friars minor, many religious, faithful, representatives of civil and diplomatic institutions, and delegates of the different local Christian communities were present at the celebration. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, was also present.

The Eucharistic celebration was an occasion to give thanks not only for the figure of the Saint of Assisi but also for the gift of his spiritual heritage that continues to inspire the mission of the Franciscans in the Holy Places. In a time marked by tensions and sufferings, the life and message of Francis resound as an invitation to reconciliation, peace and hope, with the disarming power of evangelical fraternity.

In his homily, Father Staszak highlighted the profound dimension of the Word of God, as the birds gathered by Francis, the Word does not remain enclosed but spreads, vulnerable and fragile like the flesh of the incarnate Word, yet capable of transforming weakness into strength. The evangelical radicality of Francis, made of poverty, fraternity and witness, thus becomes a living sign of Christ's redemption.

A living heritage

From the Transitus to the liturgical feast, the celebrations reaffirmed the relevance of Francis's witness, a life that becomes preaching, a Gospel that becomes flesh in daily choices. In the Holy Land, a place where faith is measured each day with the fragility of history, his example remains a call to be "small supports" of the Church, with the simple radicality of the Gospel lived.