Israeli Police Prevent Latin Patriarch from Celebrating Palm Sunday in Jerusalem

Sun Mar 29 2026 19:47:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a controversial move, Israeli police have blocked Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday mass, sparking international criticism and raising concerns over religious freedom.

Israeli police stopped Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from celebrating Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This unprecedented action, taken amidst heightened security concerns related to Iranian attacks, has drawn condemnation from global leaders and underscores ongoing tensions surrounding religious freedoms in the region. Criticism has mounted stating that the decision disregards basic principles of worship and affects millions worldwide. Israeli officials cited safety as the primary reason, declaring all holy sites closed to worshippers since the onset of the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

Israeli police have blocked the head of the Catholic church in Jerusalem from entering Christianity's holiest site to celebrate Palm Sunday.

The Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Reverend Francesco Ielpo were stopped outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - where Jesus Christ was allegedly crucified, 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 worshippers of all faiths had been asked not to visit sites in Jerusalem's Old City for safety reasons following recent Iranian attacks.

This decision has drawn sharp criticism from both global leaders and the church. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, labeled it an unfortunate overreach that is hard to understand or justify.

According to Cardinal Pizzaballa's office, this is the first time in centuries a Latin Patriarch has been denied entry on Palm Sunday, a crucial day marking the entry of Christ into Jerusalem.

The patriarchate noted this incident as a significant deviation from norms and a violation of the rights of billions who look to Jerusalem during this Holy Week. Their statement described the decision as a grave precedent that undermines worship freedoms.

Netanyahu indicated that this action was motivated by safety concerns due to the ongoing conflict, where holy sites have reportedly been targeted during missile strikes.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron have both criticized the move, calling it an affront to religious freedom.

Pope Leo XIV expressed solidarity with Middle Eastern Christians, highlighting their struggles to maintain religious practices amidst ongoing conflict.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog conveyed his sorrow over this incident and reaffirmed Israel's commitment to religious freedoms for all faiths, stressing that a plan for future church access is in the works.