Sixteen young priests of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem gathered on the island of Cyprus from June 1–5, 2026, for their fifth ongoing formation session of the year. Accompanied by Fr. Samer Madanat, the priests participated in several days of prayer, fraternity, and pastoral reflection, at the generous invitation of Msgr. Bruno Varriano, Patriarchal Vicar for Cyprus
This session forms part of the Latin Patriarchate’s commitment to the ongoing formation of her young priests throughout Jordan, Palestine, Galilee, and Cyprus. It aims to strengthen their pastoral mission and support their priestly and pastoral journey during the first years of their ministry.
The program included a pilgrimage and pastoral visits to some of the island’s most significant Christian sites. Through these visits, the priests deepened their understanding of the history of Cyprus and the roots of Christianity on the island. They visited the shrines associated with St. Paul, St. Barnabas, and St. Lazarus, as well as monasteries, churches, and pastoral centers. They also met with priests, religious, and pastoral workers, gaining insight into the life of the local Church and the challenges it faces.
The participants also met with the Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Cyprus, Msgr. Bruno Varriano, who presented an overview of the Church in Cyprus, highlighting its principal challenges as well as the pastoral achievements and successes realized in service to the faithful and the wider local community.
The formation session provided a valuable opportunity for common prayer, the sharing of priestly experiences, and the strengthening of fraternal bonds among the participants, within the broader framework of the ongoing formation journey to which the Latin Patriarchate gives special importance.
The formation session concluded with prayers for the Island of Cyprus, a beloved part of the Diocese of Jerusalem. Entrusting the local Church to the Lord, the young priests prayed for the fruitfulness of its ecclesial mission, for the gift of new priestly vocations, and for the strength and perseverance of young priests in their faithful ministry to the Gospel and the People of God.
