Marinella Bandini

Born and raised in Italy, Marinella Bandini has been a professional journalist since 2008. She works for several news agencies and online newspapers in the Catholic space. Currently based in Jerusalem, she collaborates with the Custody of the Holy Land.

Articles by Marinella Bandini

Daily procession of the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land (Calvary, Latin Chapel), Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem. Oct. 9, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini

In the Holy Land, Franciscans are keeping doors to holy sites open — for now

Oct 11, 2023 / 11:25 am

Jerusalem is semi-deserted, with many shops, schools, and offices closed, but the Custody of the Holy Land has kept holy sites open for visitors and pilgrims.

The new Bishop Hanna Jallouf, OFM, walks down the center aisle of St. Francis Church in Aleppo, Syrian, after his episcopal ordination, Sept. 17, 2023. Credit: Photo courtesy of TAWK CENTRE

Franciscan friar in Syria becomes bishop of Latin-rite Catholics in Aleppo

Sep 18, 2023 / 14:23 pm

On Sunday, Sept. 17, Father Hanna Jallouf, OFM, was ordained a bishop and became apostolic vicar of Aleppo for the Latins in Aleppo, Syria.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Credit: Jorge Lascar via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

New discoveries may change what we know about Jerusalem’s Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher

Sep 17, 2023 / 07:00 am

Ongoing archaeological investigations have now allowed scientists to trace “the entire material history of the religious complex.”