Catholic cardinal to be allowed to enter Jerusalem Church of Holy Sepulcher after suspension by Israeli authorities

Italian Catholic priest Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa will be allowed to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher after Israeli authorities barred him from entering the church to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass over what Israel said was concerns for his safety during the ongoing week. fight against Iran.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement that Pizzaballa and Pastor Fr. Francesco Ielpo was prevented from entering the church “as they were celebrating” Mass.

“Because of this, and for the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher,” said the statement. “This incident is a terrible example and it ignores the feelings of billions of people around the world, who this week, turned to Jerusalem.”

Later on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media that he had told the relevant authorities that Pizzaballa had been “given full and immediate access” to the church.

Netanyahu said Iran has “repeatedly targeted” religious sites in Jerusalem, citing an incident where “fragments of missiles crashed meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.”

“Today, due to special concern for his safety, Cardinal Pizzaballa has been asked to stop celebrating mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher,” Netanyahu said. “Although I understand this concern, as soon as I heard about the incident with Cardinal Pizzaballa, I instructed the authorities to allow the Patriarch to hold services as he wishes.”

The Israeli police earlier in the day told Agence France-Presse that they had received a request from Pizzaballa and “it was made clear that it would not be allowed,” and noted that the Old City of Jerusalem is “a complex area that does not allow the access of large emergency and rescue vehicles” in the event of “a mass casualty incident.” Police did not specify what the request included.

Farid Jubran, a spokesman for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, told The Associated Press that the congregation had requested permission for a few religious leaders to enter the church to hold a private Mass.

The Patriarchate’s statement said Pizzaballa and Ielpo were stopped while they were traveling in private, not as part of a procession or ceremonial act, and had to turn around. The organization said barring their entry was a “manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure” and called the Israeli police’s decision “hasty and wrong” and “tainted by improper considerations.”

Netanyahu in an earlier post on X that Pizzaballa was suspended “due to special concern for his safety,” and “there was no malicious intent.”

Netanyahu said that Israeli security forces are “putting together a plan to help church leaders to worship” at the church “in the coming days.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said X felt “deep regret” for the incident, and said he spoke with Pizzaballa and “clarified Israel’s unwavering commitment to freedom of religion for all religions and members of different religions, and to maintain the status quo in the holy places in Jerusalem.”

Israeli police said all holy sites in Jerusalem have been closed since the rally began war in Iran. Israeli officials have banned large gatherings, including in places of worship, and public gatherings limited to about 50 people. The traditional Palm Sunday procession that usually draws tens of thousands around the world was already canceled by the Latin Patriarchate. In some churches, ceremonies were held, and it was decided how many could attend.

Palm Sunday begins the Christian Holy Week, which ends with Easter. It symbolizes Christ’s final entry into Jerusalem, days before his crucifixion (marked on Good Friday) and resurrection (celebrated on Easter). The Church of the Holy Sepulcher marks the place where Jesus was resurrected and is a major Christian site.

World leaders are criticizing the police response

Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, called the police action “unfortunately brutal,” noting that the group was “well below” the 50-person gathering limit.

“Churches, synagogues and mosques all over Jerusalem have met the threshold of 50 or less,” Huckabee told X. “For the Bishop to be prevented from entering the Church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony is difficult to understand or to forgive.”

Huckabee said Israel has indicated that it will work with Pizzabella “to find a safe way to conduct Holy Week activities.”

The European Union’s chief executive, Kaja Kallas, condemned the move as a “violation of religious freedom.”

“The Israeli police’s decision to prevent the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday is a violation of religious freedom and the long-standing protections that govern the holy places,” he said in a social media post. “Freedom of worship in Jerusalem must be fully guaranteed, without exception, for all religions. Jerusalem’s multi-religious character must be protected.”

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgio Meloni, condemned the action of the police, saying that the incident “is a crime not only for believers but for any society that respects religious freedom.” Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said on social media that he called the Israeli ambassador to discuss the incident, which he called “unacceptable.”

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the incident and said that the worship of “all religions” must be guaranteed in Jerusalem. He added that the police action “adds to a troubling series of violations of the status of holy sites in Jerusalem.”

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “strongly condemns” this engagement, calling it “a clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law, as well as the existing legal and historical situation, as well as a violation of unrestricted freedom of access to places of worship.”

Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to “Christians in the Middle East, who suffer the consequences of terrible conflicts and in many cases are unable to fully live the rites of these holy days” in Rome on Sunday. The Vatican did not directly comment on the police incident in Jerusalem.

Pizzaballa leads the Mass, a prayer for peace

Pizzaballa celebrated Mass in St. Savior’s Monastery, a nearby marble church near an underground music school where Israeli soldiers found a safe haven, according to the Associated Press.

He later led a prayer for peace at the Dominus Flevit Shrine on the Mount of Olives. Pizzaballa spoke about the limitations of celebrating Holy Week in his services, which were shared online, but did not directly refer to the morning’s events.

“On this afternoon of Palm Sunday, we gather without a procession, without waving hands in the streets. This absence is not just a matter of law. It is a war that has interrupted our festive journey, making even the simple joy of following our Lord difficult,” said Pizzaballa. “Our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land cannot fill the streets this Sunday or share their voices in the holiday procession.”

Pizzaballa said Jerusalem “is always a symbol of hope and sorrow, of grace and suffering” and offers a message of hope.

“The war will not end the resurrection. Sorrow will not end hope,” said Pizzaballa.

In Jerusalem’s Old City, Christian worshipers told AFP they mourned the procession and traditional services.

“It has been said a lot this year. Because we are always used to the procession starting from the Mount of Olives, but this year due to war security measures it is not allowed,” 51-year-old Andre, who only gave his first name, told AFP.

“This year, because of the war, we will not be able to celebrate in the streets as usual,” Simon Hosh, 25, told AFP. “So this year we’re just celebrating in church. It’s bad.”