Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass on March 29, marking what the Catholic Church described as an unprecedented restriction in centuries of Christian worship at the holy site.
The cardinal and Friar Francesco Ielpo, the Guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, were stopped by police while walking to the church, which is built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and resurrected. The incident occurred as Israeli authorities have closed all holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City due to security concerns related to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with 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
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem — Al Jazeera English
Israeli police justified the closure by citing safety concerns, particularly the lack of bomb shelters at religious sites and the difficulty of emergency vehicle access in the Old City's narrow streets. They had rejected a specific request from the Patriarchate for a Palm Sunday exemption to the general closure policy implemented since the war began.
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
Israeli police — Al-Monitor
The restrictions have affected religious observances across all three Abrahamic faiths during their most significant periods. Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque remained largely empty during Ramadan, while few worshippers have been able to visit Judaism's Western Wall as Passover approaches. Palm Sunday traditionally marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most important period in the Christian calendar leading to Easter.
International leaders condemned the police action as an infringement on religious freedom. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the decision, while France's President Emmanuel Macron described it as adding to concerning violations of Jerusalem's holy places. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced plans to summon Israel's ambassador over the incident.
There was no malicious intent whatsoever, only concern for his (Pizzaballa's) safety and that of his party
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister — Straits Times
Netanyahu attempted to address the controversy by stating that preparations were being made to allow church leaders to worship at the site in coming days. However, the Catholic Church characterized the police action as manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate, emphasizing the global significance of Jerusalem during Holy Week for billions of Christians worldwide.