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 advised against visiting sites in the Old City for safety reasons following recent Iranian attacks.
This decision has drawn strong criticism from global leaders and church officials alike. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, labeled it an unfortunate overreach that is difficult to understand or justify.
Cardinal Pizzaballa's office noted that this marks the first time in centuries a Latin Patriarch has been turned away from the holy site on Palm Sunday, a day meant to commemorate Christ's return to Jerusalem.
The patriarchate argued that this incident is a severe deviation from principles of worship freedom, further expressing that it disregards the feelings of billions around the world who look to Jerusalem during this holy week.
They emphasized that all imposed restrictions have been duly followed, and labeled the decision as manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate.
Netanyahu has maintained that the police acted on special safety concerns, insisting that a plan is being designed to facilitate worship at holy sites in the upcoming days.
The traditional Palm Sunday procession was already canceled due to restrictions on public gatherings. Israeli forces have also closed all holy sites in the Old City since the onset of the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Netanyahu pointed out that these locations have been repeatedly targeted by Iranian missile strikes, citing one incident where missile remnants landed near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
He reiterated that this decision was not meant to harm and is a precaution to ensure the safety of all worshippers.
Italian and French officials also condemned the police action as an affront to religious freedoms, echoing calls for guaranteed freedom of worship in Jerusalem for all faiths.
Pope Leo XIV extended his support to Middle Eastern Christians suffering during the conflict and highlighted their inability to fully participate in holy rites.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog reached out to Cardinal Pizzaballa to express his deep regret about the situation, reaffirming Israel's commitment to uphold the freedoms associated with religious practices and the status quo at holy sites.
