Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land

With the General Chapter of 1217 that divided the Order of the Friars Minor into provinces, the Province of the Holy Land was born.  This decision sprang from St.Francis, who believed that all the problems of mankind could be resolved when seen in the light of the Gospel: "Let us proclaim the Gospel to all men".

The Province of the Holy Land was nurtured by the Crusader presence, and its apostolate included all the territories around the southeast Mediterranean basin, from Egypt to Greece and beyond, as well as the land where Christ was born and the places where our redemption was realized. In 1219, it was visited by St.Francis  himself, who met the Sultan Melek-El-Kamel.   In 1291, with the fall of St. John of Acre into Muslim hands, came the definitive beginning of Islamic domination in Palestine.

The Friars took refuge in Cyprus, the headquarters of the Eastern Province, and planned their return to Jerusalem and the area of Palestine.
A bull from Pope John XXII (9th August 1328) granted permission to the Provincial Minister, resident in Cyprus, to send two of his friars to the holy places every year.

Christians were officially banned from Palestine, but the Friars Minor continued to be present and to exercise as many kinds of apostolates as were possible.  In 1333 they secured the site of the Cenacle and immediately established a friary there. During this same period the Muslim authorities recognized the friars as 'official residents' in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The definitive return of the Friars Minor to the Holy Land, with the legal possession of certain sanctuaries and the right to use others, was owed to the generosity of King Roberto d'Angiò and Queen Sancia of Naples. This acquisition was made possible through the mediation of Friar Ruggero Guarini  with the Sultan of Egypt.

Pope Clement VI, with the bulls, "Gratias Agimus" and "Nuper Carissimae" of 1342 approved the actions of the Neapolitan royalty and sent the friars to the Holy Land as the official custodians of it. Once there, the friars were under the jurisdiction of the Guardian of the Monastery of Mount Sion in Jerusalem; in his turn, the Guardian was answerable to the Minister Provincial of the Holy Land in Cyprus.

The Custody suffered the martyrdom of many friars including the four friars canonized by Pope Paul VI on 21st June, 1970, who belonged to the Friary of Mount Sion in Jerusalem and were killed on 14th November 1391.

With the passing of time, the Custody acquired more sites through hard work, perseverance and sacrifice. Along with these achievements, the Custody endured many painful losses and humiliating restrictions frequently imposed by the Turkish governors. For example, in 1552, the Friars were expelled from the Cenacle.  

Every 24th December, the Custody of the Holy Land leads a solemn procession, carrying this Infant Jesus to the Crib, where it remains until 5th January, This statue was made in 1920 in Barcelona,Spain, by the "Casa Viuda Reixach"

In spite of all difficulties and tribulations, the Franciscans always confronted every situation with spirit and efficiency.   In fact, it was at the end of the troublesome centuries, from 1500 to 1800, that the Franciscans established innumerable religious, cultural and social activities.

In a Bull dating 1623, Pope Urban VII clearly stated that it was the duty of all Catholic Princes, as well as that of the Popes, to protect the Franciscans in the Holy Land.   Throughout the centuries, in numerous important documents, the Popes have stressed "the duty of the Church to the Holy Land".   Being Franciscan, the Custody had no deposited capital or funds,  and in the area of activity there was no possible source of financial support, so it always depended on external financing and its relations with the Catholic West were also economic in character. 

The Custody of the Holy Land is actually an autonomous province of the Order of Friars Minor: an international entity, governed by the Custos.  Once elected by the Order's central government, he must be confirmed by the Holy See.

In 1992, on the 650th anniversary of the bull of Clement VI, Pope John Paul II wrote a letter to the Minister General of the Franciscan Order, exhorting the Friars Minor to constantly persevere in accomplishing the mandate given by the Vatican. The Friars are therefore considered 'custodians' of the Holy Places by the will and mandate of the Apostolic See.

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