Catholic cardinal stops at Jerusalem’s Church of Holy Sepulcher, Israel says he was doing it for his own safety

The Catholic Church and world leaders criticized Israeli police after they prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. fight against Iran.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement that Pizzaballa and Pastor Fr. Francesco Ielpo was prevented from entering the church “as they were celebrating” Mass.

“Because of this, and for the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher,” said the statement. “This incident is a terrible example and it ignores the feelings of billions of people around the world, who this week, turned to Jerusalem.”

The Israeli police told Agence France-Presse that they received a request from Pizzaballa and it was “clarified that it will not be allowed” due to these restrictions, and noted that the Old City of Jerusalem is “a complex area that does not allow the access of large emergency and rescue vehicles” in the event of “a mass casualty incident.” Police did not specify what the request included.

The Patriarchate’s statement said Pizzaballa and Ielpo were stopped while they were traveling in private, not as part of a procession or ceremonial act, and had to turn around. The organization said barring their entry was a “manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure” and called the Israeli police’s decision “hasty and wrong” and “tainted by improper considerations.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said via X that Pizzaballa was suspended “out of special concern for his safety,” and that “there was no malicious intent.” Netanyahu said Iran has “repeatedly targeted holy sites” in Jerusalem with missiles, including one strike that resulted in fragments of the missiles crashing “meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.”

Netanyahu said that Israeli security forces are “putting together a plan to help church leaders to worship” at the church “in the coming days.”

Israeli police said all holy sites in Jerusalem have been closed since the rally began war in Iran. Israeli officials have banned large gatherings, including in places of worship, and public gatherings limited to about 50 people. The traditional Palm Sunday procession was already canceled by the Latin Patriarchate. In some churches, ceremonies were held, and it was decided how many could attend.

Palm Sunday begins the Christian Holy Week, which ends with Easter. It symbolizes Christ’s final entry into Jerusalem, days before his crucifixion (marked on Good Friday) and resurrection (celebrated on Easter). The Church of the Holy Sepulcher marks the place where Jesus was resurrected and is a major Christian site.

Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, called the police action “unfortunately brutal,” noting that the group was “well below” the 50-person gathering limit.

“Churches, synagogues and mosques all over Jerusalem have met the threshold of 50 or less,” Huckabee told X. “For the Bishop to be prevented from entering the Church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony is difficult to understand or to forgive.”

Huckabee said Israel has indicated that it will work with Pizzabella “to find a safe way to conduct Holy Week activities.”

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgio Meloni, condemned the action of the police, saying that the incident “is a crime not only for believers but for any society that respects religious freedom.” Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said on social media that he called the Israeli ambassador to discuss the incident, which he called “unacceptable.”

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the incident and said that the worship of “all religions” must be guaranteed in Jerusalem. He added that the police action “adds to a troubling series of violations of the status of holy sites in Jerusalem.”

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “strongly condemns” this engagement, calling it “a clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law, as well as the existing legal and historical situation, as well as a violation of unrestricted freedom of access to places of worship.”

In Jerusalem’s Old City, Christian worshipers told AFP they mourned the procession and traditional services.

“It is said a lot this year. Because we are always used to the procession starting from the Mount of Olives, but this year due to war security measures it is not allowed,” 51-year-old Andre, who only gave his first name, told AFP.

“This year, because of the war, we will not be able to celebrate in the streets as usual,” Simon Hosh, 25, told AFP. “So this year we just celebrate in church. It’s bad.”

Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to “Christians in the Middle East, who suffer the consequences of terrible conflicts and in many cases are unable to fully live the rites of these holy days” in Rome on Sunday. The Vatican did not directly comment on the police incident in Jerusalem.