— Holy Land Councillor News
Sami Reflects on 45 Years in the Holy Land
September 6, 2026
The outgoing Chief Executive Officer of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem shares his farewell thoughts: 45 years of service, a changing Holy Land, and reasons for hope.
Dear Knights and Dames,
As his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem comes to a close, Sami El-Youssef has published his farewell reflection on the patriarchate’s website. It is a personal look back at 45 years of service to the Church in the Holy Land, and a fitting send-off for the leader we celebrated in our last post.
El-Youssef’s career began in the corridors of Bethlehem University in the mid-eighties, where he taught and held administrative positions, before the decade of leading the patriarchate’s administrative and financial work that began when he joined in 2017. He speaks plainly about how the Holy Land has changed in those 45 years, from the intifadas and wars to the settlement expansion that now dominates the West Bank landscape.
“The resilience one sees in the eyes of young families, the joy in the eyes of school children, the wise reflections of our elderly give us hope that the Christian presence is not going anywhere.”
His reflection does not end on that note. The patriarchate is preparing new housing projects, expanded services, and job and income generation programs, and he plans to remain involved during the CEO transition while hoping to pursue a retirement dream of writing a book about his journey. He closes by thanking donors and members for their support, encouragement, and prayers.
