Pierbattista Pizzaballa

{{Infobox Christian leader

| type = Cardinal

| honorific-prefix = His Beatitude and Eminence

| name = Pierbattista Pizzaballa

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|list=OFM|size=100%}}

| title = {{ubl|Cardinal|Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem}}

| image = Mons. Pierbattista Pizzaballa.jpg

| caption = Pizzaballa in 2016

| church = Catholic Church

| archdiocese = Jerusalem

| see = Jerusalem

| appointed = 24 October 2020

| term_start = 6 November 2020

| predecessor = Fouad Twal

| other_post = {{ubl|Grand Prior of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre|Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Onofrio (2023–)}}

| ordination = 15 September 1990

| ordained_by = Giacomo Biffi

| consecration = 10 September 2016

| consecrated_by = Leonardo Sandri

| cardinal = 30 September 2023

| created_cardinal_by = Pope Francis

| rank = Cardinal Priest

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|4|21}}

| birth_place = Cologno al Serio, Italy

| previous_post = {{ubl|Custos of the Holy Land (2004–2016)|Titular Archbishop of Verbe (2016–2020)|Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (2016–2020)}}

| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Pierbattista Pizzaballa (cardinal).svg

| signature = Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa signature.jpg

| motto = {{lang|la|Sufficit tibi gratia mea}} ('My grace is sufficient for you')

}}

Pierbattista Pizzaballa {{post-nominals|list=OFM}} (born 21 April 1965) is an Italian Catholic prelate who has served as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 6 November 2020.{{cite web |date=6 November 2020 |title=Patriarch Pizzaballa takes possession of See of Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem |url=https://www.lpj.org/posts/patriarch-pizzaballa-takes-possession-of-see-of-latin-patriarchate-of-jerusalem.html |access-date=10 November 2020 |website=Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem}} A Franciscan friar, he served as Custos of the Holy Land from 2004 to 2016 and as Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate from 2016 to 2020. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023. He is considered a possible front-runner for the papacy at the 2025 papal conclave following the death of Pope Francis.{{cite news |title=Who Will Be the Next Pope? Here Are Some Possible Contenders. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/world/europe/next-pope-francis-candidates.html|newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York City|date=April 21, 2025 |access-date=April 22, 2025}}{{cite news |title=Who will be the next pope? Some potential candidates to succeed Francis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/21/who-next-pope-francis-potential-candidates-succeed|newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 21, 2025 |access-date=April 22, 2025}}

Biography

Pierbattista Pizzaballa was born in Cologno al Serio, Bergamo, son of Pietro Pizzaballa and Maria Maddalena Tadini.{{Cite web|url=http://en.abouna.org/en/holylands/patriarch-twal-hands-over-powers-apostolic-administrator-fr-pierbattista-pizzaballa|title=Patriarch Twal hands over powers to Apostolic Administrator Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa|website=en.abouna.org|language=en|date=15 July 2016|archive-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810053942/http://en.abouna.org/en/holylands/patriarch-twal-hands-over-powers-apostolic-administrator-fr-pierbattista-pizzaballa|url-status=dead}} He entered the Franciscan minor seminary in Bologna in September 1976 and on 5 September 1984 entered their novitiate in La Verna. He made his first vows there on 7 September 1985 and his perpetual vows in Bologna on 4 October 1989. He earned his bachelor's degree in theology at the Pontifical University Antonianum and was ordained a priest on 15 September 1990, in the Cathedral of Bologna by Cardinal Giacomo Biffi.

He obtained his diploma in classical studies at the Archiepiscopal Seminary of Ferrara.{{Cite web |title=Right Reverend Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM|url=http://www.custodia.org/default.asp?id=6068 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817105706/http://www.custodia.org/default.asp?id=6068 |archive-date=17 August 2017 |access-date=2017-05-15 |website=Custody of the Holy Land}} He studied in Biblical Theology at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem in 1993 and then taught biblical Hebrew at the Franciscan Faculty of Biblical Science and Archeology in Jerusalem.

Besides his native Italian, Pizzaballa speaks Hebrew, Arabic and English.{{Cite news |last=Allen Jr. |first=John L. |date=2016-09-22 |title=Pope's potential masterstroke takes charge in the Holy Land |work=Crux |url=https://cruxnow.com/analysis/2016/09/22/popes-potential-masterstroke-takes-charge-holy-land/ |url-status=dead |access-date=15 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044221/https://cruxnow.com/analysis/2016/09/22/popes-potential-masterstroke-takes-charge-holy-land/ |archive-date=6 March 2019}}

Presbyterate

After completing his postgraduate studies, Pizzaballa taught Biblical Hebrew at the Franciscan Faculty of Biblical and archaeological sciences in Jerusalem, was responsible for the publication of the Roman Missal in Hebrew in 1995, and translated liturgical texts in Hebrew.

He joined the Franciscans working at the Custody of the Holy Land in July 1999 and was responsible for the pastoral care of Hebrew-speaking Catholics. On 9 May 2001, he was appointed Superior of the Convent of Saints Simeon and Anna in Jerusalem. From 2005 to 2008 he served as Patriarchal Vicar.

He was Custos of the Holy Land (head of the Franciscan priory known as the Custody of the Holy Land) from May 2004 to April 2016, having been elected to a six-year term in May 2004, re-elected to a three-year term in March 2010, and reconfirmed for another three-year term in 2013.

In 2008 he was appointed a Consultor in the commission for relations with Judaism of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.{{cite press release | language = it | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 13 February 2020 |date=26 April 2008| url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/04/26/0274/00637.html | title = Rinunce e nomine, 26.04.2008}}

In June 2014 Pope Francis entrusted Pizzaballa with organizing the peace prayer in the Vatican gardens, which brought together Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Pizzaballa criticized Israel's construction of a barrier between the West Bank and Jerusalem and participated in protests against it in 2015. He also, before becoming a bishop, criticized Palestinian leaders for blaming all problems on the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.

Episcopate

On 24 June 2016, Pope Francis nominated Pizzaballa as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and appointed him titular archbishop of Verbe.{{cite press release | language = it | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 13 February 2020 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2016/06/24/0468/01093.html | date= 24 June 2016| title = Rinunce e nomine, 24.06.2016}} On 10 September 2016 he was consecrated by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Archbishop Fouad Twal, and Bishop Francesco Beschi in the Bergamo Cathedral.{{Cite news | work = La Stampa | url = https://www.lastampa.it/vatican-insider/en/2016/09/11/news/pizzaballa-may-jerusalem-s-peace-be-everyone-s-1.34803083 | date= 11 September 2016 | access-date = 24 October 2020 | title = Pizzaballa: 'May Jerusalem's peace be everyone's' | first =Giorgio | last = Bernadelli }} The appointment of an Italian broke with tradition, as such posts are normally assigned to members of the ethnic group they predominantly serve, such as his immediate predecessors (a Palestinian and Jordanian respectively).

In 2016, Pizzaballa joined the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and became its Pro Grand Prior, and then Grand Prior upon appointment as Latin Patriarch.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/oessh/gran_magistero_en.html|title=The Grand Magisterium of the Order - Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem|website=www.vatican.va|access-date=2017-05-15}}{{Cite journal|title=The Grand Magisterium's autumn meeting|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/oessh/newsletter/news-letter44_en.pdf|journal=Newsletter of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre|volume=44, Fall 2016|pages=12}} On 31 May 2017 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 13 February 2020 | date= 31 May 2017| url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2017/05/31/170531b.html | title = Resignations and Appointments, 31.05.2017}}

On 24 October 2020, Pizzaballa was appointed Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem by Pope Francis.{{cite news| url = https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/pope-appoints-pierbattista-pizzaballa-patriarch-jerusalem.html | date= 24 October 2020 | title = Pope appoints Archbishop Pizzaballa Patriarch of Jerusalem | access-date = 10 November 2020 | work = Vatican News }} He leads the Board of Directors of Caritas Jerusalem.{{Cite web|url=http://catholicchurch-holyland.com/?p=948|title=The Catholic Church Of The Holy Land » Caritas Jerusalem|publisher = The Catholic Church of the Holy Land |access-date=15 May 2017}}

Cardinal

On 9 July 2023, Pope Francis announced he planned to create him a cardinal at a consistory scheduled for 30 September 2023.{{cite press release | access-date = 9 July 2023| publisher = Holy See Press Office | language = it | title = Le parole del Papa alla recita dell'Angelus, 09.07.2023 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/07/09/0502/01116.html }} At that consistory, he was made cardinal priest of Sant'Onofrio, the official church of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.{{cite press release | access-date = 1 October 2023 | date = 30 September 2023 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/09/30/230930b.html | title = Assignation of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals, 30.09.2023 | publisher = Holy See Press Office}}

On 16 October 2023, Pizzaballa condemned Hamas' actions as barbaric and offered himself as a hostage in exchange for captive Israeli children held in Gaza during the Gaza war.{{Cite news |last=Giangrave |first=Claire |date=2023-10-16 |title=Vatican seeks to defuse tensions with Israel as it offers mediation in the Holy Land |language=en-US |work=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2023/10/16/israel-gaza-vatican-mediation/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite news |last=Pullella |first=Philip |date=2023-10-16 |title=Jerusalem Catholic Patriarch offers to be exchanged for Gaza hostages |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jerusalem-catholic-patriarch-offers-be-exchanged-gaza-hostages-2023-10-16/ |access-date=2023-10-17}}

He has advocated for an end to the Gaza war and the Israeli occupation of Palestine.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-25 |title=Pizzaballa in Bethlehem: May Christ be born anew in this land! - Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-12/pizzaballa-in-bethlehem-may-christ-be-born-anew-in-this-land.html |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=www.vaticannews.va |language=en}}

Pizzaballa was a signatory to the "Statement on the Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza" which condemned attacks on civilians, called for de-escalation and called for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. His statement was criticized by Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen.{{Cite web |last=Rocca |first=Francis X. |date=18 October 2023 |title=Israel Protests Pope Francis' Statement on Gaza |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-war-gaza-palestinians/card/israel-protests-pope-francis-statement-on-gaza-4ScL9OynYAeCQKREKyNA |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}

On his visit to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve 2023, Pizzaballa donned a Palestinian keffiyeh and expressed a desire for peace in the region.{{Cite news|title=Israel-Hamas war casts pall over Christmas Eve vespers in Bethlehem |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256367/israel-hamas-war-casts-pall-over-christmas-eve-vespers-in-bethlehem |first=Marinella|last=Bandini|location=Bethlehem|date=24 December 2023|publisher=Catholic News Agency |language=en}} He cosigned the Christmas message released by the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem advocating Christians to refrain from public celebration of the holiday in solidarity with those affected by the war.{{Cite news|title=In times of darkness, faith is all you have, says Cardinal Pizzaballa |url=https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/in-times-of-darkness-faith-is-all-you-have-says-cardinal-pizzaballa |first=Judith|last=Sudilovsky|date=20 December 2023|newspaper=Detroit Catholic |language=en-US}}

Positions

Cardinal Pizzaballa is opposed to the blessing of same-sex couples and the readmission of divorcees to the sacraments. However, he has stated that he desires a pontificate in continuity with that of Pope Francis, openness to immigrants and a greater role for women in the Church.{{cite web|url=https://www.lastampa.it/cronaca/2025/04/23/news/conclave_papabili_donne_chiesa_coppie_gay-15114814/|title=Il successore di Francesco? I papabili e le loro posizioni su donne nella Chiesa e coppie gay|trans-title=Who will succeed Francis? The candidates and their positions on women in the Church and gay couples|language=it|website=La Stampa|date=April 23, 2025|access-date=April 23, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.li/UfuCz|archive-date=April 23, 2025|url-status=live}}

Honors and recognition

{{Flag|Holy See}}: Grand Prior and Knight of the Collar of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre{{Cite web |title=Il Gran Magistero dell'Ordine Equestre del Santo Sepolcro di Gerusalemme |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/oessh/gran_magistero.html |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=www.vatican.va}}
{{flag|Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}: Conventual Chaplain Grand Cross ad honorem{{Cite web|url=https://www.orderofmalta.int/2013/02/22/the-order-of-malta-receives-the-reverend-pizzaballa-custos-of-the-holy-land/|title=The Order of Malta receives the Reverend Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land|date=22 February 2013|website=Order of Malta|access-date=15 May 2017|archive-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816022525/https://www.orderofmalta.int/2013/02/22/the-order-of-malta-receives-the-reverend-pizzaballa-custos-of-the-holy-land/|url-status=dead}}
{{Flag|Italy}}: Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy{{Cite web|url=http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/Onorificenze.aspx?pag=0&qIdOnorificenza=53|title=Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana|publisher =Segretariato generale della Presidenza della Repubblica |access-date=15 May 2017}}
Supreme Taxiarch of the Greek Orthodox Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre{{Cite web|url= https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/blog/2016/05/30/his-beatitude-the-patriarch-of-jerusalem-decorates-the-franciscan-custos-of-the-holy-land/ |title=HIS BEATITUDE THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM DECORATES THE FRANCISCAN CUSTOS OF THE HOLY LAND|date=30 May 2016 |publisher= Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem |language=en-US|access-date=24 October 2020}}

References

External links

[https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_pizzaballa_p.html Pizzaballa Card. Pierbattista, O.F.M.]. Holy See Press Office. [https://web.archive.org/web/20231001031031/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_pizzaballa_p.html Archived] from the original on 1 October 2023