From November 27 to December 2, 2024, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the United Kingdom to mark the 70th anniversary of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher’s Lieutenancy in England and Wales.
The visit began on November 28 with a special parliamentary reception at the Palace of Westminster, organized by the Catholic Bishops' Conference. There, Cardinal Pizzaballa met Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, The most reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Members of Parliament, civil servants, and representatives of charities working in the Holy Land. Reflecting on the ongoing struggles in the region, he emphasized the importance of faith and hope. “Hope is a daughter of faith,” he said, urging action in the face of adversity. He acknowledged the devastation caused by war but expressed optimism for grassroots-driven change: “The status quo in our lands is over. We cannot go back to the previous situation.”
Later that day, the Cardinal visited the Order of Malta’s Grand Priory of Great Britain, meeting members and praying vespers.
On November 29, Cardinal Pizzaballa met with the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales and participated in the Holy Land Coordination Conference, a longstanding initiative supporting the local Church in the Holy Land. In the evening, he attended the Investiture Vigil ahead of the anniversary celebrations.
The following day, November 30, the Cardinal presided over the solemn Investiture ceremony of new Knights and Dames at St. George's Cathedral, Southwark, alongside the Grand Prior of the Order. In his homily, he spoke of the future of the Holy Land being in the hands of the "meek," those who serve others despite persecution, and the importance of building bonds of love across communities.
| “I am convinced that the future of the Holy Land will not be decided by the big political and socio-economic powers, but by these little ones – the meek. Day after day, despite everything, they will build relations of love in their families, in their communities, in places of worship, believing that they are not there to show their power, but just because God put them there to build the Kingdom of God with others”. – Cardinal Pizzaballa |
The Cardinal’s visit concluded on December 1, First Advent, with Mass at Westminster Cathedral in London and St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, where he concelebrated with the Most Reverend Leo Cushley, Archbishop and Metropolitan of St. Andrews and Edinburgh. Reflecting on the Gospel, he urged Christians to live with hope and vigilance, stressing the importance of prayer in enduring challenges. He also reiterated that only Jesus can bring lasting peace to the Holy Land, calling on all to pray for hearts aligned with God's love and compassion.
Photos ©Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.
