Israeli police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from marking Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre “for the first time in centuries,” the Patriarchate said, with police citing security concerns linked to the Iran war.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Friar Francesco Ielpo were stopped by police while walking to the church, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said.
“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,” it said in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: “There was no malicious intent whatsoever, only concern for his (Pizzaballa’s) safety and that of his party.”
He said preparations were in place to allow church leaders to worship at the church in the coming days.
Israeli police said all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City – including those sacred to Christians, Muslims and Jews – had been closed to worshippers since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, particularly locations without bomb shelters.
Police said they had rejected a request from the Patriarchate for a Palm Sunday exemption.
“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,” police said.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most important week in the Christian calendar, leading to Easter.
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