On Sunday, December 28, 2025, the Feast of the Holy Family, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over Mass at the Holy Family Latin Parish in Ramallah, concelebrating were several bishops, Fr. Yacoub Rafidi, parish priest of Ramallah, as well as Fr. Samuel Costanzo, vicar priest.
The parishoners welcomed His Beatitude and the accompying clergy at the entrance of the parish, followed by a short meeting at the Diwan to exchange greeting.
In his homily, Cardinal Pizzaballa reflected on the reality of the family in the Holy Land and around the world, noting that the family unit today faces many challenges. He emphasized that the family is often no longer granted the sacredness and importance it once held, as many young people postpone the responsibility of family life due to financial and social difficulties.
However, the Patriarch stressed that the family is much more than material security. Reflecting on the Holy Family, he recalled that the Gospel reveals how Joseph, Mary, and Jesus themselves faced profound challenges, similar to today’s challenges including displacement, uncertainty, and having no stable place to remain.
“Saint Joseph accepted God’s invitation despite the fact that nothing was clear or guaranteed,” the Patriarch said. “What he did was trust the word of the angel and obey it.”
Cardinal Pizzaballa underlined that the first foundation for building a family is trust, not waiting for complete assurance, but trusting one another and trusting God. He affirmed that, with God, all things are possible, even amid ongoing difficulties and threats.
“The unity of the family and the unity of the community become the solid rock on which we can lean on to continue building,” he said, adding that as Christians, the sacraments make God’s presence concrete and alive among us.
At the conclusion of the Mass, the Patriarch prayed for all families, encouraging them to cultivate and safeguard the presence of God in their homes and communities, since it is His presence that enables them to overcome all challenges. He reminded the faithful not to be afraid, echoing the angel’s words to Saint Joseph.
The Holy Family is the patron of three parishes in the Diocese of Jerusalem: Ramallah, Gaza, and Rusaifeh in Jordan.
