Latin patriarch of Jerusalem among candidates to replace Pope Francis

Among the candidates to replace Pope Francis at the upcoming conclave, one name familiar to many Israeli officials stands out — Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The Italian priest has lived in Israel for over three decades, and is a fluent Hebrew speaker.

Pizzaballa, 60, was ordained in 1990 and moved to Jerusalem the same year. He received a degree from the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem, translated liturgical texts into Hebrew and provided pastoral care for the local Hebrew-speaking Catholic congregation.

In 2004, Pizzaballa became Custos of the Holy Land, the head of the Franciscans in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria, Cyprus, Rhodes, and some of Egypt.

Pope Francis selected Pizzaballa to head the vacant seat of head of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 2016, and appointed him Latin patriarch in 2020, a role that is usually filled by a Palestinian or Jordanian priest. Francis made him a cardinal in 2023. Pizzaballa said his creation as cardinal has raised the “voice of Jerusalem” within the Church and on the international stage.

“Jerusalem is the heart of the life of the world,” he said. “So, from this heart, we should receive life from all over the world. But also this heart, Jerusalem, wants to bring the perspective and desire of life from Jerusalem to all over the world.”

In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, Pizzaballa said that the region’s 2,000-year-old Christian community has come under increasing attack, with the most right-wing government in Israel’s history emboldening extremists who have harassed clergy and vandalized religious property at a quickening pace.

After the Hamas attacks on October 7 of that year, Pizzaballa said that he would offer himself in exchange for Hamas’s Israeli hostages if it would help bring children home.

“If I’m available for an exchange?” he said in response to a question from a reporter. “Anything, if this could bring about the freedom of children, no problem. My absolute willingness.”

At the same time, Pizzaballa faced criticism from Israel for the initial response to the Hamas attack by Christian leaders in Jerusalem. The patriarch’s statement made no explicit mention of the Hamas attack, restating in general terms its condemnation of any act that targets civilians.

“In my opinion, it would be wonderful if he were elected, not just because he comes from here and he understands us, but because he’s such an exceptionally bright and good person,” Rabbi David Rosen, former American Jewish Committee international director of Interreligious Affairs, tells The Times of Israel.

Farid Jubran, an adviser to the Patriarchate, declines to offer any speculation on Pizzaballa’s chances.

“Cardinal Pizzabala is under the age of 80 and will participate in the conclave,” he says. “But we really pray for a pope that is best for the church. And that’s the most important thing.”