Arabic version: شرطة الاحتلال الإسرائيلي تمنع البطريرك اللاتيني من دخول كنيسة القيامة للاحتفال بعيد السعف
According to BBC News,
Israeli police have blocked the head of the Catholic church in Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday. The Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Reverend Francesco Ielpo were stopped outside the church, which is believed to be the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, and where they planned to hold a mass to mark the start of Holy Week, church authorities said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the police acted out of safety concerns due to recent Iranian attacks, advising worshippers of “all faiths” to refrain from visiting Jerusalem’s Old City. However, this action has drawn strong criticism from global leaders as well as the church, with Cardinal Pizzaballa’s office noting it was “the first time in centuries” a Latin Patriarch had been turned away from the holy site on Palm Sunday.
The patriarchate expressed that the decision disregards the sentiments of billions who look to Jerusalem during Holy Week. They emphasized that they had complied with all “imposed restrictions” and described the police’s actions as a “manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure.”
Netanyahu defended the police’s actions, stating they were taken out of “special” safety concerns and indicated that plans are being developed to allow church leaders to worship at the site in the coming days. The traditional Palm Sunday procession had already been cancelled due to restrictions on public gatherings.
International leaders, including US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, condemned the police’s decision. Huckabee labeled it an “unfortunate overreach,” while Meloni remarked that it represents an offense against religious freedom. French President Emmanuel Macron also criticized the move, calling for guaranteed freedom to hold religious rites in Jerusalem for all faiths.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his “great sorrow” over the “unfortunate incident” and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to freedom of religion for all faiths and to upholding the status quo at the holy sites of Jerusalem.
