Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem - Crusader Patriarchate

Crusader Patriarchate

For earlier history of the See of Jerusalem, see Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem.

In 1054, the Great Schism split Christianity into the Eastern Orthodox Church - which consisted of the four Orthodox Christian Patriarchs of Antioch, Jerusalem, Constantinople and Alexandria - under the jurisdiction of Constantinople and the Roman Catholic Church - which consisted of the Pope of Rome. All Christians in the Holy Land came under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem.

In 1099, the Crusaders captured Jerusalem, set up the Kingdom of Jerusalem and established a Latin hierarchy under a Latin Patriarch, and expelled the Orthodox Patriarch. The Latin Patriarchate was divided into four archdioceses - their heads bearing the titles of Archbishop of Tyre, Archbishop of Caesarea, Archbishop of Nazareth, and Archbishop of Petra - and a number of suffragan dioceses. The Latin Patriarch took over control of the Latin quarter of the city of Jerusalem (the Holy Sepulchre and the immediate surroundings), and had as his direct suffragans the bishops of Lydda-Ramla, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Gaza, and the abbots of the Temple, Mount Sion, and the Mount of Olives.

The Latin Patriarch resided in Jerusalem from 1099 to 1187, while Orthodox Patriarchs continued to be appointed, but resided in Constantinople. In 1187, the Crusaders were forced to flee Jerusalem, and the Latin Patriarchy moved to Acre, while the Orthodox Patriarch returned to Jerusalem. The Catholic Church continued to appoint Latin Patriarchs. The Crusader Kingdom endured almost 200 years until the last vestiges of the Kingdom were conquered by the Mamluks in 1291, and the Latin hierarchy was effectively eliminated in the Levant. With the fall of Acre, the Latin Patriarch moved to Cyprus in 1291. From 1374, the Catholic Church continued to appoint titular Patriarchs of Jerusalem, who were based at the Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura in Rome.

In 1342, Pope Clement VI officially committed the care of the Holy Land to the Franciscans and the Franciscan Custos of the Holy Lands (The Grand Masters of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre) held the title ex officio under the Papal bull Gratiam agimus by Pope Clement VI, unless someone was specifically appointed to the honorary office.