Cardinal Pizzaballa Leads Holy Mary Procession in Haifa, also known as The Procession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Pope’s representative in the Holy Land, arrived at St. Joseph’s Latin Church in Haifa. There, he delivered remarks in Italian beside a statue of the Virgin Mary before leading the traditional Marian procession toward the Carmelite Stella Maris Monastery on Mount Carmel, Israel. The procession is also called Processio Nostrae Dominae de Monte Carmelo and Ascensus Nostrae Dominae de Monte Carmelo.

According to historical accounts, the procession began in 1919 when Haifa’s Christian community returned the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to the monastery after the war, in gratitude for protection during Ottoman‑era bombardments. This year, as in previous years, Catholic scouts accompanied the march with drums, bagpipes, and other instruments, while crowds pulled the heavy Marian float up the mountain roads. The event culminated in a mass prayer at the Stella Maris Monastery.