The Roman Catholic church on Monday swore in a new guardian of its sites in the Holy Land for the first time in over a decade.

Italian Franciscan Father Francesco Patton, 52, replaces Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa in the post known as Custos of the Holy Land.

The Custos is responsible for caring and maintaining Christian presence in much of the Middle East, as well as coordinating and organising the thousands of Catholic pilgrims to Jerusalem every year.

He was sworn in on Monday afternoon in a ceremony in Jerusalem's Old City – which includes the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

Patton walked with over 100 robed priests, monks and nuns, as well as a few hundred Christian well-wishers, from the Jaffa Gate entrance of the Old City to Saint Saviour Church.

Angelo Isan, who works with the Vatican's embassy in Tel Aviv, said it was a "very important day for each one of us."

Alexandra, an elderly Christian Palestinian who joined in the procession, said she was happy to share such a happy day in the context of troubles for Christians across the region. 

She said members of her family in the Syrian city of Aleppo had been forced into exile during the country's war and she was concerned about the Islamic State group threatening Christians across the region.

"I am celebrating this happy day and God willing peace will come. If God wills it, Daesh won’t come to Jerusalem," she said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

Patton was born in Italy and speaks English, Spanish and his native Italian. He has held a number of senior church administrative positions, the Custody's website said.

The Custody is made up of 285 members of the Franciscan order from 39 countries.

Its territory covers Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, the Greek island of Rhodes and the monastery of Mosky, in Cairo.

Pizzaballa, who served for 12 years, was the longest-serving Custos in modern times.

Source: AFP