Pope Leo XIV Approves New Friends of Holy Sepulchre
A new group allows non-Knights and non-Dames to support the work of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Catholicism
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Pope Leo XIV has approved the formation of the Friends of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The new association provides a way for individuals to engage with the Order's mission without becoming full Knights or Dames.
Why it matters
This initiative opens the Order's charitable life to a broader range of participants, including Catholics, other Christians, people of other faiths, and people of goodwill. It allows more individuals to support projects in the Holy Land through contributions, prayer, and advocacy.
Members of the Friends group make contributions that are forwarded by the Irish Lieutenancy to the Holy Land without any administrative fees. The group is open to anyone of goodwill regardless of faith, though participants do not hold the rank of Knight or Dame.
The players
Pope Leo XIV
He is the head of the Catholic Church who officially sanctioned the formation of the new Friends group.
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
This is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the Holy See that supports the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
Irish Lieutenancy
This is the regional administrative body responsible for processing contributions from the new group to the Holy Land.
The details
Participants can support the organization by making one-off gifts, establishing regular contributions, or joining in communal prayer. Friends will receive ongoing updates regarding the Order's activities and specific projects supported in the Holy Land.
Timeline
The creation of the group was approved on October 29, 2026.
Culture Shift
The creation of this association represents a departure from the traditional, exclusive membership model defined by the Constitution of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. It mirrors a broader trend within modern religious organizations to expand lay participation through more inclusive, volunteer-based support networks.
Individuals interested in the mission can now contribute to regional projects in the Holy Land without the formal requirements of becoming a Knight or Dame. Participants should contact the Irish Lieutenancy to learn how to arrange regular contributions or join local prayer groups.
The takeaway
This development creates a new avenue for charitable engagement with humanitarian projects in the Holy Land. Supporters can implement this in their own lives by researching local opportunities to contribute to the Order's regional initiatives.
Further reading
Learn more about the history and mission of the church in the Catholicism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Irish Catholic.
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