Franciscan custodian of Holy Land looks ahead to new responsibilities

Published: 2004-06-14

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Before taking over his new duties as custodian of the Holy Land in early June, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa spent some time in virtual anonymity at his parent's small northern Italian village. "They are very simple people in the good sense and they were happy for my new position but I had to explain to them what the significance was," Father Pizzaballa said. Next time he goes to the village, the Italian media will be giving his activities major coverage, he said. Father Pizzaballa said the reality of serving as custodian has been overwhelming. "I'll have to get used to a completely different style of life. Before, I lived in a small house with a small fraternity within a very familiar context. Now I live in a monastery with 100 monks. It is a completely different dynamic," he said. Born in 1965, Father Pizzaballa is the youngest appointed custodian. He previously served as vicar of the Hebrew-speaking Catholic community in Israel.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .