Pierbattista Pizzaballa

A cardinal’s oblation

The red that a cardinal wears is supposed to point to a willingness to shed their blood. The ritual used to create new cardinals of the Roman Church refers to the wearing of the color red as a sign of the blood of the martyrs.

Pope Saint John Paul II taught; “Red is a sign of the dignity of the office of a cardinal, signifying that you are ready to act with fortitude, even to the point of spilling your blood for the increase of the Christian faith” (1998).

Cardinal Pizzaballa’s words of availability are impactful. Read the article.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us.

This deeply moves me.

A new cardinal among us

Earlier today the Pope created 21 new cardinals. Among the new cardinals is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M.,the first time a residential Patriarch has been given the title of Cardinal of the Roman Church. This is significant for several reasons and in my mind chief among them is that Jerusalem is the Mother, the heart of the Christian faith. Catholics around the world ought to be proud that Mother Church is so represented.

His Beatitude, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, serves the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as its Grand Prior, serving with the Grand Master, Fernando Cardinal Filoni.

The Order was represented by the Cardinal Grand Master and the Governor General and a large international delegation.

Among the new cardinals and in addition to Cardinal Pizzaballa are members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre: Cardinal Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Cape Town and Grand Priore for South Africa, Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio, Archbishop of Bogota and Grand Priore to Colombia, Cardinal America Manuel Alves Aguiar Bishop of Setúbal (Portugal) and Cardinal Augustine Marchetto, Apostolic Nuncio and Archbishop of Astigi.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem becomes Cardinal

His Beatitude, Pierbattista Cardinal Pizzaballa, OFM, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem with the Govenor General of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and others of the Order.

The new Cardinal received the title of the Church of Sant’Onofrio. The church is administered by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement.

Congrats, blessings and many years to Cardinal Pizzaballa!