The Catholic Church originates in the area that is now Israel and the Palestinian Territories, tracing its origins to the local Church of Jerusalem described in the Acts of the Apostles, formed by the earliest followers of Jesus of Nazareth, who was born in Bethlehem, lived in the Galilee, and was crucified in Jerusalem. The Church of Jerusalem is considered the "mother church" of all Christianity.
Christianity's holiest shrine, the Church of the Resurrection, is located in Jerusalem, as are many of the sites associated with the life of Jesus and the earliest Christians.
There are approximately 200,000 Christians in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, representing about 1.5% of the total population. The largest Catholic Churches include 64,400 Greek Melkite Catholics, 32,200 Latin Catholics, and 11,270 Maronite Catholics.
Jurisdictions of seven of the Catholic Churches overlap in Israel: The Armenian, Chaldean, Greek Melkite, Latin (Roman), Maronite, and Syriac. The Coptic Catholic patriarchate also has representation here. In addition, the Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land, the Territorial Prelature of the Notre Dame Center of Jerusalem, and the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei have jurisdictional presence in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The Holy See is represented by the Apostolic Nuncio in Jaffa-Tel Aviv for Israel and the Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem for Palestine.
About 85% of the Catholics in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are Arabic-speaking. In addition to a handful of chaplaincies for expatriate clergy, pilgrims, and workers, there is also a vicariate within the Latin Patriarchate ministering to Hebrew Catholics, i.e., non-Arab converts to Catholicism of Hebrew descent, or Hebrew-speaking Catholics born to immigrant workers, often from the Philippines.
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Archeparchy of Jerusalem of the Melkites
Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Akka
Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Haifa and the Holy Land
Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem, Jordan, and Palestine
Armenian Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem
Syriac Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem
Chaldean Patriarchal Exarchate
The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land has care of most of the Christian holy sites and shrines under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church.
The Territorial Prelature of the Notre Dame Center of Jerusalem is considered an Ecumenical Holy Place and pilgrim hostel, under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See, but in the care of the Legion of Christ since November 2004.
The Personal prelature of Opus Dei has a small regional vicariate in Jerusalem. Its members are under the jurisdiction of the prelature, though no territory is.
Parishes and communities
There are currently 103 Catholic parishes in Israel and the Palestinian Territories:
43 Latin
43 Greek Melkite
14 Maronite
2 Syrian
1 Armenian
There are additionally 8 language chaplaincies and 7 ethnic pastoral centers within the Latin Patriarchate:
4 Hebrew-speaking
2 German-speaking
1 English-speaking
1 French-speaking
2 Filipino communities
2 Russian communities
1 African community
1 Polish community
1 Romanian community
The Holy See is currently represented by an Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and an Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem of Palestine. At this time, the same person fulfills both offices, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto. He also serves as Nuncio to Cyprus.
In June 1762, a diplomatic relationship was established in Ottoman Syria, including the region of Palestine.
In March 1929, the diplomatic brief for British Palestine was attached to the Delegate to Cairo.
On 11 February 1948, with the Papal brief Supreme Pastoris, Pope Pius XII erected the Apostolic Delegation in Jerusalem of Palestine, Transjordan and Cyprus.
In December 1993, the Holy See and the State of Israel formally established diplomatic relations, establishing the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to Israel.
The Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land was established at the initiative of the Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem to foster unity within the Catholic Churches of the Holy Land, in 1992.
The regional episcopal conference for the Latin bishops is the Conference of the Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions (CELRA), which was established in 1967.
The Middle East Council of Churches represents 14 million Christians in the Middle East, covering 14 countries and including representatives from 27 churches or jurisdictions (3 Oriental Orthodox, 4 Eastern Orthodox, 7 Catholic, and 13 Protestant/Evangelical).
The Heads of Churches in Jerusalem is a gathering of the patriarchs and other ordinaries of 13 of the local Christian churches in Jerusalem, including Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Latin Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches.
There are 1,764 members of religious orders and institutes of consecrated life in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
The oldest of these is the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, established as a province here in 1217.
They are represented by the Committee of the Religious Men of the Holy Land and the Union of Religious Superiors of Women in the Holy Land.
There are 540 male religious, representing the following congregations:
Assumptionists
Basilians
Benedictines Dormition Abbey
Benedictines Olivetan
Clerical Society of the Most Holy Trinity at Mirinae
Congregation of Christian Brothers
Discalced Carmelites
Families of the Visitation
Hospitaller Order of St. John of God
Institute of the Incarnate Word
Jesuits
Lazarists
Legionaries of Christ
Little Brothers of Jesus
Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas
Little Family of the Annunciation
Missionaries of Charity Contemplative
Monks of Bethlehem
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
Order of Preachers
Order of the Servants of Mary
Passionists
Religious of Our Lady of Sion
Sacred Heart Fathers of Betharram
Salesians of Don Bosco
Servants of Charity
Sons of Divine Providence
Trappists
White Fathers
There are 1079 female religious, from the following congregations:
There are 145 members of other institutes of consecrated life:
Association Fraternelle Internationale
Bose Monastic Community
Chemin Neuf Community
Comunione e Liberazione
Community Cancao Nova
Community Obra de Maria
Community of Sant'Egidio
Community of the Beatitudes
Emmanuel Community
Focolare
Koinonia John the Baptist Community
Neocatechumenal Way
Regnum Christi
Sermig Brotherhood of Hope
Shalom Catholic Community
Catholic scouting and youth ministry
2500 members in 16 troops of the Catholic Scout Association in Israel
2500 members in 12 troops of the Palestinian Catholic Scouts of Saint John the Baptist
Young Catholic Students (Jeunesse Etudiante Catholic)
135 members of the Neocatechumenal Way
16 members of Comunione e Liberazione
members of the personal prelature of Opus Dei
Medical and social services
There are:
9 charitable and humanitarian organizations
7 hospitals
7 centers for the disabled
6 orphanages
5 homes for the elderly
Military and hosptialler orders
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Universities and educational institutes
Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum, Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, founded 1866.
École Biblique, Dominicans, founded 1920.
Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, Pontifical University Antonianum, Franciscans, founded 1924.
College of Ancient Near East Studies of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Jesuits, founded 1927.
Latin Patriarchal Seminary of Jerusalem, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, founded 1936.
Tantur Ecumenical Institute, University of Notre Dame, founded 1972.
Bethlehem University, Christian Brothers, founded 1973.
German Institute of Biblical and Theological Studies, Dormition Abbey, Benedictines, founded 1973.
Bat Kol Institute, Sisters of Sion, founded 1983
Center for Biblical Formation, Ecce Homo, Sisters of Sion, founded 1984
Institut Albert Decourtray for Studies in Judaism and Hebrew Literature, École cathédrale de Paris, founded 1991
Studium Theologicum Galilaeae "Redemptoris Mater", Neocatechumenal Way, founded 2009.
Polis Institute of Languages and Humanities, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Opus Dei, founded 2011.
Studium Theologicum Salesianum, Salesian Pontifical University, Salesians of Don Bosco, founded 2011.
There are, additionally, 71 primary and secondary schools
Christian Information Centre, founded 1973.
Episcopal Commission for Christian Pilgrimages
Franciscan Pilgrim's Office, founded 2009.
Latin Patriarchate Pilgrimages
Shrines and holy sites
Church of the Resurrection, Jerusalem - Franciscans share custody of Christianity's holiest site along with the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Syriac Orthodox Churches.
Bethphage, Jerusalem, Franciscans
Cenacle, Jerusalem, Franciscans
Dominus Flevit, Jerusalem, Franciscans
Dormition Abbey, Jerusalem, Benedictines
Flagellation Church, Jerusalem, Franciscans
Garden of Gethsemane, Jerusalem, Franciscans
Pater Noster Church, Jerusalem,Carmelite Nuns
St. Anne Church, Jerusalem, Missionaries of Africa
St. Peter in Gallicantu, Jerusalem, Assumptionists
St. Stephen Church, Jerusalem, Dominicans
Via Dolorosa 3rd Station, Jerusalem, Armenian Catholics
Via Dolorosa 4th Station, Jerusalem, Armenian Catholics
Via Dolorosa 5th Station, Jerusalem, Franciscans
Via Dolorosa 6th Station, Jerusalem, Little Sisters of Jesus
Via Dolorosa 7th Station, Jerusalem, Franciscans
Emmaus of the Crusaders, Abu Gosh, Benedictines
Shepherd's Field, Beit Sahour, Franciscans
St. Lazarus, Bethany, Franciscans
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Franciscans
Milk Grotto, Bethlehem, Franciscans
First Miracle Church, Cana, Franciscans
House of Peter, Capernaum, Franciscans
Church of the Visitation, Ein Karem, Franciscans
St. John in the Desert, Ein Karem, Franciscans
Stella Maris, Haifa, Carmelites
Baptism of Our Lord, Jordan River, Franciscans
Emmaus Nicoplis, Latrun, Betharram/Beatitudes
Duc in Altum, Migdal, Legion of Christ
Sermon on the Mount, Mount of Beatitudes, Franciscan Sisters of IHM
Sacrifice of Elijah, Muhraqa, Carmelites
Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth, Franciscans
Church of St. Joseph, Nazareth, Franciscans
Synagogue, Nazareth, Greek Melkite Catholics
Emmaus Qubeibeh, Qubeibeh, Franciscans
Church of Nicodemus, Ramleh, Franciscans
Multiplication of the Loaves, Tabgha, Benedictines
Primacy of Peter, Tabgha, Franciscans
Transfiguration, Mount Tabor, Franciscans
House of Parables, Taybeh,
Church of St. Peter, Tiberias, Koinonia Giovanni Battista
Armenian Guest House
Austrian Hospice of the Holy Family
Casa Nova, Franciscan
Dom Polski (Musrara)
Dom Polski (Old City)
Ecce Homo, Sisters of Sion
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Knight's Palace
Maison d'Abraham
Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center
Paulus-Haus
Rosary Sisters (Mamila)
Rosary Sisters (Old City)
Saint Charles German Hospice
Saint Maroun Guesthouse
Saint Thomas Center
Tantur Ecumenical Institute
Betharram Center
Casa Nova, Franciscan
Casa Nova - Orient Palace
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Saint Joseph Home
Saint Vincent Guest House
Pilgrim's Shell, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Jerusalem Pilgrim's Cross, Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land
Saints and Martyrs
Mary of Nazareth, Theotokos
Mary Magdalen, Apostle to the Apostles
Andrew, Apostle
Bartholomew, Apostle
Matthew, Apostle
Jude/Thaddeus, Apostle
Simon the Canaanite, Apostle
James the Greater, Apostle, c.44
James the Less, Apostle, c.62
Thomas, Apostle, c.72
Philip, Apostle, c.80
John, Apostle, c.100
James the Just, first Bishop of Jerusalem, c.69
Simeon of Jerusalem, bishop, c.107
Matthias of Jerusalem, bishop, c.120
Narcissus of Jerusalem, bishop, c.216
Alexander of Jerusalem. bishop, c.251
Zamudas of Jerusalem, bishop, c.301
Macarius of Jerusalem, bishop, c.333
Maximus of Jerusalem, bishop, c.350
Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop, c.383
Elias of Jerusalem, patriarch, c.518
Zosimas of Palestine, monk, c.560 (Feast: 4 April)
Sophronius of Jerusalem, patriarch, d.638
33 Martyrs, c.70 (Feast: 16 August)
Monks slain by Arab invaders, c.410 (Feast: 28 May)
Hermits slain by Saracen invaders, c.509 (Feast: 19 February)
1500 Martyrs of Samaria, c.614 (Feast: 22 June)
44 hermits of St. Sabbas Monastery, c.614 (Feast: 16 May)
The Bishops of Rome who were born in, or first ministered in, the Holy Land:
Saint Peter, Apostle, honored as first Bishop of Rome, c.64
Pope Evaristus, c.99-107
Pope Theodore I, 642-649
Pope Urban IV, 1261-1264
