Jerusalem, Israel. Israeli police blocked Jerusalem’s Catholic cardinal from marking Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, prompting an international outcry and a reversal ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the remainder of Holy Week.
Patriarchate reports access denied
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Friar Francesco Ielpo from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. The Patriarchate said police cited security concerns related to the war in Iran.
“As a result, and for the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” the Patriarchate said in a statement.
Netanyahu orders access restored
Netanyahu posted on social media just after midnight that he instructed relevant authorities to grant full and immediate access to the cardinal.
“Today, out of special concern for his safety, Cardinal Pizzaballa was asked to refrain from holding Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” Netanyahu said.
“Even though I understand this concern, as soon as I learned about the incident with Cardinal Pizzaballa, I instructed the authorities to enable the Patriarch to hold services as he wishes.”
Police cite Old City security restrictions
Israeli police said all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City, including those sacred to Christians, Muslims and Jews, had been closed to worshippers since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, particularly locations without bomb shelters.
Police said they rejected a request from the Patriarchate for a Palm Sunday exemption.
“The Old City and the holy sites constitute a complex area that does not allow access for large emergency and rescue vehicles, which significantly challenges response capabilities and poses a real risk to human life in the event of a mass casualty incident,” police said.
How do you think authorities should balance access to holy sites with security restrictions during wartime?
