Israeli Police Prevent Latin Patriarch from Celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in Jerusalem

Sun Mar 29 2026 20:03:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, faced restrictions by Israeli authorities leading to a canceled Palm Sunday mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre amidst heightened security concerns.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was denied entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday due to safety concerns related to recent Iranian attacks. This event, marking a significant departure from tradition, has drawn widespread condemnation from religious leaders and officials alike, with accusations of violating freedom of worship. Critics argue that the decision undermines respect for religious practices during a critical time for Christian believers.

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 - as they planned to hold a mass to mark the start of Holy Week, church authorities reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that worshippers of all faiths had been asked to avoid visiting sites in Jerusalem's Old City for safety reasons due to recent Iranian attacks.

However, the move has drawn significant criticism from global leaders and religious figures. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, labeled the incident an unfortunate overreach that is difficult to understand or justify.

Cardinal Pizzaballa's office noted that this was the first time in centuries that a Latin Patriarch was turned away from the holy site on Palm Sunday, which commemorates Christ's historic return to Jerusalem.

The patriarchate condemned the decision as a grave precedent, disregarding the sentiments of billions worldwide who look to Jerusalem during this holy week. Cardinal Pizzaballa stated that the decision represents an extreme departure from the fundamental principles of freedom of worship.

Netanyahu insisted the police acted out of special safety concerns, emphasizing that holy sites belonging to Christian, Jewish, and Muslim worshippers had been repeatedly targeted by Iranian strikes in recent days.

International reactions came swiftly, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni describing the move as an offense not only against believers but against every community that recognizes religious freedom, while French President Emmanuel Macron called for the assurance of freedom for religious practices in Jerusalem.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his sorrow for the incident and reaffirmed Israel's commitment to maintaining religious freedom across all faiths in Jerusalem.