Pontifical Biblical Institute, Jerusalem

24/12/2025

Taking the chance of the week off for Christmas and Hannukah at the Hebrew University, the students who are here for the semester had a second trip to Galilee, this time over the three days. On the way north, we passed through the Jordan Valley, visiting the Baptism site at Qasr al Yahud, then Beth Shean, and the synagogues of Beth Alpha and Hamat Tiberias. The second day, we headed even further north to see Hazor, Tel Dan, and Banias (Caesarea Philippi). On our return trip, we visited Mount Tabor, Tel Megiddo, and the site of Emmaus-Nicopolis.Tonight, we will head to Bethlehem for the Midnight Mass.

19/12/2025

On 17th December 2025, Fr Arturo Sosa SJ, Vice-Grand Chancellor of the Pontificia Università Gregoriana, nominated Rev. Fr Pino Di Luccio SJ, as Director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem, starting from 1st September 2026. (Fr Di Luccio SJ is currently President of the Collegium Maximum of the university, and remains in this office until 31st August 2026).

In data 17 dicembre 2025 il M.R.P. Arturo Sosa S.J., Vice Gran Cancelliere dell’Università, ha nominato il Rev. P. Pino Di Luccio S.J., Direttore del Pontifical Biblical Institute - Jerusalem della Pontificia Università Gregoriana a decorrere dal 1° settembre 2026. Il P. Di Luccio rimarrà in carica come Presidente del Collegium Maximum fino al 31 agosto 2026.

👉 https://www.unigre.it/it/eventi-e-comunicazione/comunicazione/notizie-e-comunicati/nomine-direttore-del-pontifical-biblical-institute-jerusalem/

04/12/2025

This Advent, Rome’s Holy Doors remind us that God is always opening the way to hope, mercy, and renewal. At the Pontifical Gregorian University ( Pontificia Università Gregoriana) founded by St. Ignatius, those doors take shape in classrooms, research, formation, and future leadership for our Church.

Your year-end gift opens the door of opportunity for students from the US and more than 120 nations. This year there is a special opportunity to support the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Jerusalem. which is the Jesuits’ flagship center for Scripture study and located in the very city where Jesus lived, taught, died, and rose. It allows scholars to study the Bible at the heart of the Christian story.

Give today and hold the door open for the next generation.

www.gregorianfoundation.org/give-online

04/12/2025

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem recently welcomed a high-level delegation from Rome, including Rev. Prof. Mark Lewis SJ, Rector of the Pontificia Università Gregoriana and Rev. Prof. Josef Mario Briffa SJ, Director of Academic Programmes at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Jerusalem.

Together with HUJI leadership, the discussion focused on shared academic priorities and opportunities to deepen cooperation, particularly in the study of Scripture and inter-tradition dialogue.

Rev. Prof. Mark Lewis SJ reflected on the meeting: “Our conversation with the academic leadership of the Hebrew University offered an important opportunity to reinforce our partnership, especially through the study of Scripture and facilitating dialogue. The unique presence of our institutions in the two great cities of the ancient world - Jerusalem and Rome - opens pathways to create learning environments that bridge history and help shape the future.”

In the photo (left to right): Vice President for International Affairs at HUJI, Prof. Guy Harpaz; Rector of HUJI, Prof. Oron Shagrir; Rev. Prof. Mark Lewis SJ, Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University; Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at HUJI, Prof. Elisheva Baumgarten; Rev. Prof Josef Mario Briffa SJ, , Director of Academic Programmes at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Jerusalem; and International Office Head at HUJI, Ms. Jane Turner.

04/12/2025

https://www.jesuits.global/2025/12/02/jesuits-in-the-holy-land/

More than 500 years ago – on September 1, 1523 – Ignatius of Loyola made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was his fervent desire to live and work there as a simple servant of God until his death. However, with war in the region looming he was forced to return to Europe where he would...

30/11/2025

Aside from our academic programmes, we also offer programmes of ongoing formation. We have just published the dates for this upcoming year: "On the footsteps of Jesus" (01-22 June 2026), and "Bible and spirituality in the Holy Land" (04 July-01 August 2026). Both programmes are led by Fr Miguel Angel Garcia SJ.
For further information, please click here: https://pbijerusalem.net/ongoing-formation/

24/11/2025

The students who are in Jerusalem for the semester had their first visit to the Galilee this weekend. On Friday, we visited Caeserea Marittima, Sepphoris, and Nazareth. We spent Saturday visiting sites around the Sea of Galilee: Tabgha (Church of the Multiplication, Primacy of Peter), Capernaum, Et Tell, and the Church of the Beatitudes. We will have a second visit in December.

28/10/2025

26/10/2025

This Friday and Saturday, our Institute and museum welcomed two groups of visitors, as part of the "Open Doors" weekend organised by the museum in Jerusalem. The visitors had the chance to get to know the Institute, its history and our work here in Jerusalem (and Rome), learn about our Museum, our Egyptian mummy, and excavations at Teleilat Ghassul.

25/10/2025

Fresh of the press: "The Cornets of Teleilat Ghassul as a Vigil Object" by S. Zuhovitzky, P. Waiman-Barak & Y. Gadot, just published in Tel Aviv, 52(2) 159–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/03344355.2025.2546274
Old excavation can still yield fresh research! It is always a pleasure for our institute to facilitate research that makes use of our archaeological collection, keeping the legacy of the Teleilat Ghassul excavation (1929-1938, 1959-1960) alive!

18/10/2025

Cento anni della prima pietra (18 ottobre 1925-2025)
La prima pietra della sede del Pontificio Istituto Biblico a Gerusalemme fu posata cento anni fa, il 18 ottobre 1925. Sebbene il progetto fosse iniziato già nel 1913 con la prima carovana, l'Istituto non aveva ancora una casa permanente. L'acquisto del terreno fu finalmente completato il 5 ottobre e il progetto di costruzione ebbe subito inizio. Il 18 ottobre 1925, festa di San Luca, alle ore 16:00, la prima pietra fu benedetta e posata dal Patriarca Latino Mons. Barlassina, alla presenza del Governatore britannico, dei Consoli di Francia, Italia e Spagna, del Custode di Terra Santa, del Priore del Convento Domenicano di Saint-Étienne, di diversi altri religiosi e membri della comunità cattolica. Per il Pontificio Istituto Biblico, erano presenti anche Padre Alexis Mallon SJ e i partecipanti alla VI carovana.

Centenary of the Foundation Stone (18 October 1925-2025) 
The foundation stone for building of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem was laid one hundred years ago, on 18 October 1925. While the project itself started in 1913 with the first caravan, the Institute did not yet a permenant home yet. The purchase of the land was finally completed on October 5, and the building project started in earnest. On 18 October 1925, Feast of St Luke at 16:00, the foundation stone was blessed and laid by the Latin Patriarch Mgr. Barlassina, in the presence of the British Governor, the Consuls of France, Italy and Spain, the Custos of the Holy Land, the Prior of the Dominican Convent of Saint-Étienne, several other religious and members of the Catholic community. Fr Alexis Mallon SJ and the participants of the VIth carovana were present on behalf of the Pontifical Biblical Institute.

Pontificia Università Gregoriana
Pontificio Istituto Biblico, Roma

08/10/2025

📅 Lunedì 13 ottobre 2025, ore 17:00
🌍 Proiezione documentario “Teilhard: Visionary Scientist”
📍 Aula Paulina del Pontificio Istituto Biblico

L'opera, candidata agli Emmy 2025 (per la TV) nella categoria “Documentario Storico”, è stata prodotta anche grazie al sostegno di un ex-alunno del Pontificio Istituto Biblico, il Dr. Anthony Tambasco.

Un lavoro che dall’ideazione al completamento ha richiesto ben 13 anni, comprende 35 interviste che — insieme al reperimento del materiale documentario — ha riguardato 25 locations in quattro Paesi di tre continenti.

https://www.osservatoreromano.va/it/news/2025-04/quo-082/scienziato-visionario.html