A new sports and cultural center of the Custody was inaugurated on Monday, July 3 at the Terra Sancta School in Jerusalem's Old City. Present at the event were Brother Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, H.B. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, as well as representatives of the European Union, the French Development Agency and the French Consulate, the project's funders. A school that in addition to providing scientific and literary studies, aims - through this center - to provide social and physical development, to residents of the Old City. Br. IBRAHIM FALTAS, ofm Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land It was a crazy idea that no one believed in. When I thought about building a swimming pool here, nobody believed me. This sports center is very important for the old city of Jerusalem, for its young people, because it will get them away from drugs. The people of Jerusalem and their children deserve a project like this. Anyone who has visited the Old City surely knows how "impossible" it is to build a swimming pool, because of the narrow alleys and the proximity of housing. But the Custody of the Holy Land didn't let that stop them: they dug down to about 15 meters underground, to allow the construction of the center. Br. IBRAHIM FALTAS, ofm Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land We built in an unimaginable place. We faced multiple difficulties and obstacles, and sometimes we had to dismantle the structure and rebuild it. It was a nightmare, sometimes a mix of fantasy and madness. Excavation was not always easy either. Since the area is an archaeological zone, remains of a well and a church dating back to Byzantine times were found during the work. A small museum, created inside the sports center collects a number of artifacts. Despite all the challenges the Custody succeeded and built a structure consisting of four floors, equipped with a swimming pool. Built according to the most modern rules of engineering, it is 16 meters long and 8 meters wide. The sports center is equipped with a sauna, multi-use rooms and an outdoor sports field. Br IBRAHIM FALTAS, ofm Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land Everyone has been affected by the Pandemic, even the residents of Bethlehem who live mostly from tourism. They worked here day and night, and that helped us get the job done. Let me tell you something: we did not take away dust but we leafed through a history book. Every meter we wrote a book of anthropology, history and geography. "Capital of Resurrection." This is the name chosen for the center, highlighting the history, religiosity and mission of the Holy City. Br IBRAHIM FALTAS, ofm Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land Jerusalem is not a tomb but a Resurrection, it is not violence but peace, it is not slavery but freedom, it is not humiliation but dignity. This is Jerusalem. On the foundation stone of the project the Custody placed a prayer from the founder of the order, St. Francis of Assisi, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." The center is intended to be just that: a new landmark, thanks to the generosity that Franciscan friars have shown for the Holy Land for more than 800 years.