Men and women have flocked here by the thousands. The Ministry of Tourism of Israel announced that, in 2017, the number of tourists and pilgrims broke all previous records. From January to November, over 3.3 million names were recorded: 25% more than in 2016, half a million more than the previous record. During the Christmas press conference, Mons. Pizzaballa also highlighted the main events of the year, including the increased number of pilgrims and the improvement in relations between the different Christian Churches, all due to the inauguration of the restored Edicule of the Holy Sepulcher. This is a special day for Christians, not only in the Holy Land, but in the whole world. H.E. Mons. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA, ofm Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem "It sounds like 'mission impossible'', but instead, paraphrasing what the angel Gabriel said to Mary: ” Fr. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "Today's event is absolutely extraordinary, because it is the first ripe fruit of a collaboration between the three main communities here in Jerusalem." BARTOLOMEO I Archbishop of Constantinople - Ecumenical Patriarch "Today's event has a meaning of unity, collaboration and cooperation. We pray for peace and unity. " This was another difficult year for the population in Syria, who keeps witnessing destruction, clashes and affliction, but also hope brought by all the people who expressed solidarity and affection towards this country and its people. Fr. MICHAEL PERRY, ofm Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor "We visited the Christians in Syria and also the rest of its population. We traveled with Custos Father Francesco Patton and with other friars on the week after Easter to show them our support and to let them know that they are truly in our hearts and our prayers.” 2017 was the year commemorating the 800th anniversary of the arrival of the first Franciscans in the Holy Land. Presently, the friars look after 70 sanctuaries and they are present in 50 of them. The Custody also received Pope Francis' special message renewing the Franciscan mission in the Holy Land. H. Em. Card. LEONARDO SANDRI Prefect Congregation - Eastern Churches "The mission of the Custody of the Holy Land is to preserve the life of these places, which have witnessed the passage of Jesus and have listened to His words.” Fr. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm
 Custos of the Holy Land
 "We must be deeply grateful, not for our accomplishments in these past 800 years, but for what God has done (also) through a simple, poor instrument. Therefore, remembering the starting point [of these important events] eight centuries ago, means recalling the seed from which it all began.” Thursday, December 14, Mons. Leopoldo Girelli, new Apostolic Nuncio for Israel and Cyprus and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine entered the Holy City. "Peace in Jerusalem, peace in the whole world" was his message. Since December 6, newspapers and television news have re-launched images and news on the ongoing clashes in some areas of Palestine and Israel. In the letter of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries in the Holy Land, we read: "Jerusalem is the heritage of all humanity. Any exclusive claim, be it political or religious, defies the city's logic.” The protests are a reality, but they are not taking place everywhere, and the pilgrims should not be afraid. "Pilgrims, come to Jerusalem!" was the joint appeal launched by Mons. Pierbattista Pizzaballa and by Father Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land. All the reports aired in 2017 can be found on the site: cmc-terrasanta.org.