Catholic Church names new custodian of Holy Land sites

The Roman Catholic Church on Friday announced the appointment of Italian Franciscan Father Francesco Patton as the new guardian of the church’s sites in the Holy Land.

Patton, 52, replaces Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa who served for 12 years in the post known as Custos of the Holy Land, in accordance with a tradition that dates back to 1219, during the Crusades.

“Father Francesco Patton was born in Vigo Meano in the province and diocese of Trent on December 23, 1963,” a statement on the Custody’s website said.

“He is fluent in English and Spanish, besides his native Italian,” the statement said. “In 1993 he earned a Licentiate in Communication Sciences at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.”

Pope Francis prays at the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, in Jerusalem’s Old City on May 26, 2014. (AFP/Thomas Coex)

The church announcement said previous posts held by Patton include several senior church administrative positions and professor of social communications at a theological school.

The Custos is responsible for administering holy sites, Catholic schools and training seminarians.

He heads The Custody, a body made up of 285 members of the Franciscan order from 39 countries.

Its territory covers Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, the Greek island of Rhodes and the monastery of Mouski, in Cairo, the statement said.

Pizzaballa was the longest-serving Custos in modern times.