— Holy Land Councillor News
Gratitude for Sami El-Yousef’s Nearly Decade of Leadership in the Holy Land
August 26, 2026
After nearly a decade of stewardship through pandemic and war, the Latin Patriarchate enters its next chapter financially sound and deeply committed to the communities it serves.
Dear Knights and Dames,
The National Catholic Register recently published a feature profile of Sami El-Yousef, who will step down as chief executive officer of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem on September 1 after nearly a decade of service. It is a story worth reading for anyone whose prayers and generosity support the work of our Order in the Holy Land.
El-Yousef took on the patriarchate’s administration when it was financially strained, with mounting debts and lagging fundraising. Through the pandemic that shuttered pilgrimage tourism across the Bethlehem region and then the war in Gaza, he rebuilt donor confidence, introduced professional budgeting and external audits, and doubled the patriarchate’s budget over the course of his tenure. Under his leadership, the archdiocese continues to operate 64 parishes and a network of 44 schools serving 19,000 students across Jordan, Israel, and Palestine, while providing humanitarian aid at times when it was the only organization capable of coordinating relief into Gaza.
“Somehow, he always seems to find a way to help. He is a tremendous blessing to the people in the Holy Land.”
El-Yousef, born in the Christian Quarter of the Old City and educated in the United States, will retire when his tenure ends. Cardinal Pizzaballa praised him as a leader who brought the diocesan administration into line with international standards while deepening its relationships with ecclesial, diplomatic, and charitable partners around the world.
