When the last Crusaders left the Holy Land in 1291, the pastoral care of the Catholic Community was left to the Franciscans. At first, this was a simple presence; a few friars would visit the Holy Land, and Jerusalem in particular, every year. In 1333, they obtained from the Sultan of Egypt the site of the Cenacle and the right to officiate at liturgies in the Holy Sepulchre. Among other provisions, it was established that the Franciscans would exercise these rights on behalf of the Christian world. In 1342, Pope Clement VI established the Custody of the Holy Land.
The Franciscans are also responsible for the propagation in the whole Church of two popular devotions originally from the Holy Land: the Way of the Cross and the novena in preparation of Christmas. The continuous Franciscan presence in the Holy Land and their commitment to evangelisation was a determining factor in the development of the local Church. Today, the Custody remains in charge of about 50 holy sites (another ten are in the care of other Institutes), they are commited in the ecumenical journey of the Church, and have important activities in biblical and archological studies. The Franciscans also have the pastoral care of a few parishes of the Latin Patriarchate.