On Saturday, September 30, His Holiness Pope Francis elevated 21 clergymen from all over the world to the rank of cardinal, including Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

The ceremony, known as the Consistory, is the 9th since the Pope’s election in March 2013. Since then, the Pontiff has sought to make the Church more comprehensive and global, going beyond the borders of Europe to choose clergy from Africa, Asia, and Latin America to fill the highest ranks in the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Center of Studies and Media in Jordan conveys heartfelt wishes to Cardinal Pizzaballa with prayers that the Almighty Lord would overwhelm him with grace, wisdom, and good health.

Biography of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa

His Eminence Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa was born in Cologno al Serio (Bergamo) on 21 April 1965.

He received the Franciscan religious habit on September 5, 1984, in Ferrara (Santo Spirito) and spent the year of novitiate at the Franciscan Shrine of La Verna (Arezzo, Italy).

He made his Temporary Profession in La Verna, on September 7, 1985, and his Solemn Profession on October 10, 1989, in the Church of St. Anthony in Bologna.

On September 15, 1990, he was ordained priest in the cathedral church of Bologna, with the imposition of hands of Cardinal Giacomo Biffi.

On October 1990, he was transferred to the Holy Land, in Jerusalem.

From July 2, 1999, he formally entered in service to the Custody of the Holy Land.

He obtained a Licenciate Degree in Biblical Theology at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem.

Patriarch Pizzaballa speaks Italian, Modern Hebrew and English.

Offices of responsibility:

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 was also the Vicar General of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem for the pastoral care of Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel.

Since 2008, he has been a Consultor in the Commission for relations with Judaism of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Unity among Christians.

Mgr Pierbattista Pizzaballa was Custos of the Holy Land for twelve years (05/05/2004 – 20/05/2016)

He began his service as Custos of the Holy Land on June 2, 2004.

On May 2010 he was reappointed, by the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, for another three-year term and, on June 2013, for a further three years.

Nomination as Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and then Patriarch

On June 24, 2016, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed the Very Reverend Pierbattista Pizzaballa as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, until the appointment of a new Patriarch.

The Episcopal Ordination of Archbishop Pizzaballa took place in September 2016, in Bergamo, Italy.

On May 31, 2017, Archbishop Pizzaballa was appointed member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches by the Holy Father Francis.

Appointment as Jerusalem Patriarch for the Latins

On October 24, 2020, Pope Francis has announced the appointment of Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa as the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem after his service as Apostolic Administrator for a period of four years.

On October 28, 2020, Pope Francis bestowed the pallium on H. B. Pierbattista Pizzaballa at Santa Marta Chapel.

Publications:

-“La presenza francescana in Terra Santa”. Franciscan Printing Press, 2005, ISBN 978-88-6-24000-91

-“Terra Santa”, interview with Giorgio Acquaviva, Editrice La Scuola, Brescia, 2008, ISBN 978-88-35023-142

-“Le comunità cristiane in Medio Oriente oggi. Dialogo fra le giovani generazioni come unica possibile futura via di distensione”, Pierbattista Pizzaballa-Euntes Docete-LXIV-3-201, Editrice Urbaniana University Press 978-88-401-4041-4

-“Il Custode di Terra Santa – un colloquio con padre Pierbattista Pizzaballa”, Piergiorgio Pescali, ADDEditore, Torino, 2014, ISBN 978-88-67830756

-“Il potere del cuore. Il Medio Oriente nel racconto del Custode di Terra Santa”, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Edizioni Terra Santa, Milano, Year of Publication 2016 ISBN 978-88-6240-379-5

Honorific decorations:

-Conventual Chaplain Grand Cross ad honorem of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. (21 February 2013)

-Commander of the Order of the Star of Italy (ex Stella della solidarietà italiana). (12 January 2007)

-Grand Official of the Order of the Star of Italy (ex Stella della solidarietà italiana). (25 May 2015)

-Grand Commander of the Orthodox Order of Cross-Bearers of the Holy Sepulchre. (30 May 2016)