Catholic Church in Israel

The Catholic Church in Israel is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, in full communion with the Holy See in Rome.
Overview.
There are approximately 200,000 Christians in Israel and the Palestinian territories, representing about 1.5% of the total population. The largest Catholic Churches include 64,400 Greek Melkite Catholics, 32,200 Latin Catholics, and 11,270 Maronite Catholics.
Jurisdictions of seven of the Catholic Churches overlap in Israel: the Armenian, Chaldean, Greek Melkite, Latin (Roman), Maronite, and Syriac. The Coptic Catholic patriarchate also has representation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, as does the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, the Territorial Prelature of the Notre Dame Center of Jerusalem, and the Personal prelature of Opus Dei, with jurisdictional presence. The Holy See is represented by the Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and the Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem for Palestine.
About 85% of the Catholics in Israel and the Palestinian territories are Arabic-speaking. In addition to a handful of chaplaincies for expatriate clergy, pilgrims, and workers, there is also a vicariate within the Latin Patriarchate ministering to Hebrew Catholics, i.e., converts to Catholicism of Jewish descent, or Hebrew-speaking Catholics born to immigrant workers, often from the Philippines.
Local jurisdictions.
Parishes and communities.
There are currently 103 Catholic parishes in Israel and the Palestinian Territories:
There are additionally 8 language chaplaincies and 7 ethnic pastoral centers within the Latin Patriarchate:
Representatives of the Holy See.
The Holy See is currently represented by an Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and an Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine. Since 1994, the same person serves in both offices, and also serves as Nuncio to Cyprus. Since 13 September 2017, Leopoldo Girelli has served in those offices.
In June 1762, a diplomatic relationship was established in Ottoman Syria, including the region of Palestine.
In March 1929, the diplomatic brief for British Palestine was attached to the Delegate to Cairo.
On 11 February 1948, with the Papal brief "Supreme Pastoris", Pope Pius XII erected the Apostolic Delegation in Jerusalem and Palestine, Transjordan and Cyprus.
In December 1993, the Holy See and the State of Israel formally established diplomatic relations, establishing the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to Israel.
Supra-diocesan structures.
Episcopal conferences.
The Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land was established in 1992 at the initiative of the Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem to foster unity within the Catholic Churches of the Holy Land.
The regional episcopal conference for the Latin bishops is the Conference of the Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions (CELRA), established in 1967.
Ecumenical participation.
The Middle East Council of Churches represents 14 million Christians in the Middle East, covering 14 countries and including representatives from 27 churches or jurisdictions (3 Oriental Orthodox, 4 Eastern Orthodox, 7 Catholic, and 13 Protestant/Evangelical).
The Heads of Churches in Jerusalem is a gathering of the patriarchs and other ordinaries of 13 of the local Christian churches in Jerusalem, including Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Latin Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches.
Religious institutes.
There are 1,764 members of religious orders and institutes of consecrated life in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The oldest of these is the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, established as a province in 1217.
They are represented by the Committee of the Religious Men of the Holy Land and the Union of Religious Superiors of Women in the Holy Land.
Male religious.
There are 540 male religious, representing the following congregations:
Female religious.
There are 1,079 female religious, from the following congregations:
Other Institutes of Consecrated Life.
There are 145 members of other institutes of consecrated life:
Lay organizations and institutes.
Medical and social services.
There are:
Universities and educational institutes.
There are, additionally, 71 primary and secondary schools
Popes, saints, martyrs.
Popes.
The Popes who were born in, or first ministered in, the Holy Land: