Archbishop John Foley Appointed Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Bethlehem University and the Vatican

On 27 June 2007, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation from the office of grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, presented by Cardinal Carlo Furno, upon having reached the age limit, and appointed Archbishop John Patrick Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, as pro-grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ).

“Bethlehem University has been blessed with the generous support of the Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order throughout the world,” said Brother Daniel Casey, Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University.   Since the founding of the University, the Grand Master of the Order has generously encouraged the establishment of Endowed Scholarships for students at Bethlehem University, the first university established in the West Bank and the only Catholic university in the Holy Land.  In addition, many members of the Order around the world have funded projects to support various projects and operating costs for the academic work of the University.  

“Over the years, the students and faculty of Bethlehem University have been encouraged by the members of the Order who have expressed their solidarity by visiting the University during their pilgrimages to the Holy Land.  It is a distinct honor for the University community to welcome members of the Order at their university in the Holy Land,” said Brother Daniel Casey, Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University. 

In his new role as the Grand Master of the Order, Archbishop Foley said his task is "to try to strengthen Catholic institutions in the Holy Land, work with (Jerusalem's Latin-rite) patriarch, encourage more members and promote the spiritual lives of the knights and dames."   

Archbishop Foley was born in the Philadelphia suburb of Darby, Pa., in 1935, and ordained a priest in Philadelphia when he was 26 years old.  He holds a doctorate in philosophy and a master's degree in journalism from the School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York, and is the former editor of the Philadelphia archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Standard and Times.  As President of the Vatican's Social Communications office since 1984, he helped media gain access to cover or rebroadcast Vatican events, and has done the English-language commentary for worldwide broadcasts of major papal ceremonies.   Under Archbishop Foley’s leadership, the Council issued documents on ethical standards in advertising, communications and the Internet.