The friars of the Custody of the Holy Land prepare for the Custody Chapter which will begin Tuesday July 5th. For this occasion, Father Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, gave an interview to the media of the Custody in Jerusalem. Before arriving to the Holy Land, Father Patton had expressed trepidation and trust, today the tells us about his first impressions of the Holy Land. Fr. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "I would say that I feel more relaxed and more confident now. The first month in the Holy Land from my point of view was for me a very positive experience, during the first meeting with the friars and fraternities as well as in the first meeting with the local realities." For the Custos, meeting with the brothers of the Province of the Holy Land during the Custody Chapter was a great opportunity. Fr. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "The Chapter is always an important event in the life of the friars, because for us brothers is a fundamental tool of verification, discernment and planning.” His greatest desire is to listen, to be able to understand the different realities. The Franciscan community in Syria is certainly a challenge. The reasons and meaning of its permanence there. Fr. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "I would say that meaning and motivation meet. When we read John’s Gospel, chapter ten, Jesus’ speech, where Jesus introduces Himself as the Good Shepherd; Jesus explains the qualities of the good shepherd, and the qualities of the mercenary, the one who does things just for a personal convenience.” Father Patton talks about the appointment of his predecessor, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa as the Apostolic Administrator of Jerusalem. Fr. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "I accepted it as a sign of further confidence in the Friars Minor, right now. I accepted it, in particular, also as a sign of confidence in Father Pierbattista, who for twelve years has served not only the Custody, but also, I would say, the entire Holy Land." The new Custos, arrived from the mountains of Trento, will face the heat of the Holy Land during the intensive summer program. Fr. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "Yes, I already experienced the 42 degrees of Capernaum when I was there. Fortunately, the heat does not scare me and even though I come from a cold region, I am more afraid of cold weather than of the heat. I like the heat. The program for the summer is to continue to explore the reality of our brothers." The need to be accompanied by prayer for the Custody Chapter. Fr. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "We always need to be accompanied by prayer. Whenever he meets people, Pope Francis says at the end: We ask all those who fondly follow the Holy Land, to pray for the friars who will be gathered in Chapter." The full interview is available in six languages on the Christian Media Center website, www.cmc-terrasanta.com.