Leo praises ‘quiet and unpublicized’ support for Holy Land

More than 3,500 knights and dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem—representing the order's 30,000 members in 40 countries around the world—came to Rome in recent days for their jubilee. Dressed in their white cloaks adorned with the Cross of Jerusalem, and black lace veils for the women, they met with the Pope on Thursday morning in the Paul VI Hall.

During the audience, the pontiff thanked the members of this secular institution under the protection of the Holy See, whose mission is to support the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, for their work accomplished “without fanfare or publicity.” He cited their support for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, particularly for the seminary, schools, and university. He also mentioned their help for humanitarian projects in the territory, which has more than 150,000 faithful in Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and Cyprus.

Leo XIV referenced their interventions “in the most severe periods of crisis, as was the case during the Covid pandemic and in the tragic days of war.” The commitment of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre provides “a glimmer of hope for individuals, families, and entire communities who risk being overwhelmed by terrible tragedies at all levels, especially in the places where Jesus lived,” he added. Each year, the Order supports the Holy Land with more than 10 million dollars, according to the organization's website.

Guarding the tomb of Christ, the head of the Catholic Church also emphasized, does not mean “simply preserving a historical, archaeological, or artistic heritage, which is certainly important, but supporting a Church made of living stones.” He urged the members of the Order to bear witness “that love triumphs over hatred, that forgiveness prevails over vengeance,” and encouraged them to “live the things of this world with the freedom and joy of those who know they are on their way to the infinite horizon of eternity.”

During the meeting, the Grand Master of the Order, Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni, presented the Pope with an icon of Our Lady of Palestine painted by the Little Sisters of Bethlehem. In this image, the original of which is kept at the Grand Magisterium, the child carried by the Virgin Mary represents the Church.