IMAGES: Pope Francis elevates Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to cardinal rank
Pope Francis granted the rank of cardinal to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, during a religious ceremony held at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. The event was attended by official delegations from Jordan and Palestine, along with delegations from various regions of the Holy Land.
From the Jordanian side, the Secretary-General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs at the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed Al-Qatarneh, participated in the celebration, along with Jordan's Ambassador to Italy, Qais Abu Odai, and a number of Jordanian MPs who came specially for the occasion.
From Palestine, Ramzi Khoury, Head of the Supreme Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, Faisal Aranki, a member of the Executive Committee, and Palestine's Ambassador to the Vatican, Issa Kassisieh, as well as Palestine's Ambassador to Italy, Abir Audah, took part. On the ecclesiastical side, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem for the Orthodox was present, along with Deputy Custos of the Holy Land Fr. Ibrahim Faltas.
At the end of the ceremony, Father Rafat Badr, Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in the Vatican, stated that the Latin Patriarchate, which extends its spiritual authority in Palestine, Jordan, and Cyprus, rejoices today in this appointment, which is considered an honor for someone who has served in the Holy Land for 34 years.
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Father Badr also pointed out that the appointment is also a tribute to all the efforts made by the Catholic Church, and Christians in general, in developing their communities through their spiritual and educational institutions, especially the schools spread in towns and cities in Jordan and Palestine.
Father Badr mentioned that Cardinal Pizzaballa stated a few days ago that this appointment would elevate the city of Jerusalem on the global and international ecclesiastical stage, especially in calling for peace for the Holy City and for just and comprehensive peace throughout Palestine.
In addition to Patriarch Pizzaballa, Pope Francis granted the rank to 20 bishops from various parts of the world. The significance of this high ecclesiastical rank lies in the fact that members of the College of Cardinals, according to legal age, participate in the elections of the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. They also assist the Pope in overseeing the affairs of the universal Church and the local churches in their diverse dioceses scattered around the world.
