Israeli Police Block Catholic Figures From Palm Sunday Mass At Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre

World leaders person voiced interest after Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, nan Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering nan Church of nan Holy Sepulchre connected Sunday.

Pizzaballa had attempted to recreation to nan religion wrong Jerusalem’s Old City pinch nan Rev. Francesco Ielpo, nan church’s charismatic guardian, to observe Palm Sunday Mass, according to nan Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

It said nan 2 were stopped en way and compelled to move back, marking “the first clip successful centuries” that Palm Sunday Mass could not beryllium celebrated astatine nan church, which is nan holiest tract successful Christianity, wherever galore judge Jesus was crucified.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's agency said successful a connection that constabulary had intervened to artifact Pizzaballa "out of typical interest for his safety," claiming that "there was nary malicious intent whatsoever."

The connection noted that all beatified sites successful nan Old City, which is location to Christian, Muslim and Jewish ineffable sites, were closed to worshippers erstwhile nan warfare collapsed retired pinch Iran successful February.

"Iran has many times targeted nan beatified sites of each 3 monotheistic religions successful Jerusalem pinch ballistic missiles. In 1 strike, rocket fragments collapsed meters from nan Church of nan Holy Sepulchre," Netanyahu's agency said.

“Freedom of believe will proceed to beryllium upheld, taxable to basal restrictions,” Israeli constabulary said successful a statement.

A Palm Sunday work takes spot astatine Monastery of Saint Saviour, successful East Jerusalem, connected Sunday.Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu via Getty Images

The general Palm Sunday procession, which usually draws thousands of Christians, was canceled past week successful statement pinch a prohibition connected ample gatherings imposed by Israel, pinch nan Latin Patriarchate citing “restrictions imposed by nan conflict.”

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said nan 2 men were “proceeding privately and without immoderate characteristics of a convoy aliases ceremonial act.”

It said nan incident sets “a sedate precedent” and disregards “the sensibilities of billions of group astir nan world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem.”

In a connection Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed “solidarity” pinch Pizzaballa, Ielpo and others “whom Israeli authorities prevented coming from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass astatine nan Holy Sepulchre.”

“Denying introduction to nan Patriarch of Jerusalem and nan Custos of nan Holy Land, particularly connected a solemnity cardinal to nan religion specified arsenic Palm Sunday, constitutes an discourtesy not only against believers but against each organization that recognizes belief freedom,” she added.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned nan determination of nan Israeli constabulary connected X, which he said “joins a worrying bid of violations of nan position of nan beatified sites successful Jerusalem.”

A Palm Sunday work takes spot astatine Monastery of Saint Saviour, successful East Jerusalem, connected Sunday.Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu via Getty Images

Ahead of nan incident, Pope Leo XIV had opened his Palm Sunday reside astatine nan Vatican by emphasizing that his prayers were “more than ever pinch nan Christians of nan Middle East.” He reiterated nan connection successful an X station aft nan incident, without addressing nan arena directly.

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said nan incident was “unacceptable and offensive,” while nan country’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he would summon nan ambassador of Israel to “obtain clarifications” connected what occurred.

Steffen Seibert, Germany’s ambassador to Israel, said connected X that nan incident was “painful to each Christians,” while nan vice president of nan European Parliament, Pina Picierno, said nan incident constituted “a grave, unprecedented, and unacceptable usurpation of belief freedom.”

Following nan outcry, Netanyahu’s agency said that authorities would put together “a scheme to alteration religion leaders to believe astatine nan beatified tract successful nan coming days” arsenic nan remainder of Easter week is marked.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s entranceway into Jerusalem, erstwhile his followers laid thenar branches successful his path.