• Macron says Israeli police’s action ‘adds to worrying series of violations of status of holy places’
• Italy summons Israel’s ambassador over incident

JERUSALEM: Israeli police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday mass, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said.

“This morning, the Israeli Police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, together with the Custos of the Holy Land, the Most Reverend Fr. Francesco Ielpo, OFM, the official Guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, as they made their way to celebrate the Palm Sunday Mass,” a statement from the Patriarchate said.

It said the two were stopped while proceeding privately without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act, and had to turn back. “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,” the statement said.

“This incident is a grave precedent and disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world, who during this week, look to Jerusalem.”

Palm Sunday, which opens Holy Week for Christians, marks Christ’s final entry into Jerusalem, days before his crucifixion and resurrection, according to the Gospels.

Since US-Israeli strikes on Iran sparked the Middle East war on Feb 28, Israeli authorities have banned large gatherings, including at synagogues, churches and mosques.

Public gatherings are limited to around 50 people.

Israeli police on Sunday said all holy sites in Jerusalem were closed since the start of the war.

“The Patriarch’s request was reviewed yesterday, and it was clarified that it could not be approved” because of the restrictions, it said in a statement to AFP.

“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,” the force said.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Israeli police for blocking the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from giving Palm Sunday mass, saying worship “for all religions” must be guaranteed in Jerusalem.

“I condemn this decision by the Israeli police”, who prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa — the top Catholic figure for Israel and the Palestinian territories,” Macron said on X.

Their action “adds to a worrying series of violations of the status of holy places in Jerusalem”, he said.

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Israeli police actions preventing Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarch from celebrating Palm Sunday mass was “an offence to the faithful” in a statement.

Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, separately said on X he had summoned Israel’s ambassador over the incident.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem earlier said its head, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, an archbishop with Catholic jurisdiction across Israel and the Palestinian territories, was prevented by Israeli police from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to conduct the mass.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2026