Cardinal Grand Master arrived today in the Holy Land welcomed at Tel Aviv Airport by the Apostolic Nunzio, Mons. Adolfo Tito Yllana and from Gaza Priest, Father Gabriele Romanelli.
After a short meeting with the Ambassador of Italy Sergio Barbanti, who was travelling on the same plane, Cardinal Filoni moved to Jerusalem where in the evening he will have lunch with Patriarch Cardinal Pizzaballa.
Accompanying the Grand Master are the Governor General of the Order of Ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone and the head of communication François Vayne.
This visit by the Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher together with the Governor General, must be placed and interpreted in the context of charitable generosity that, since the outbreak of the tragic events of October 7, has spontaneously manifested in favour of the Holy Land by the gereiyr donations of all Knights and Ladies of Order.
The offers that the various Lieutenants and Magistrates have sent in the form of humanitarian aid to Gaza are intended to meet the basic needs as evaluated by the Patriarchate.
The Grand Master and the Governor General, in addition to handing over these contributions, which have reached the amount of 800,000 euros, wanted to be present in person to give a word of solidarity in this period of isolation.
This pilgrimage inspired by the World Day of Peace, which takes place on January 1, aims to show solidarity not only through economic resources, but also with concrete participation in this phase of cancellation of pilgrimages, and especially to give a sign of spiritual closeness and Affective of the entire Order of the Holy Sepulchre united in prayer with the Latin Patriarchate at this difficult time.