Israeli police on Sunday prevented , the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The Patriarchate said that Pizzaballa, who heads the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, was accompanied by , the official guardian of the church, when they were stopped by Israeli police while on their way to the historic site in .
According to the statement, the two church leaders were proceeding privately and were not part of any formal procession or public ceremony when they were turned back by authorities.
“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 Patriarchate said, describing the incident as “a grave precedent.”
The statement further noted that the development disregards the religious significance of the period for Christians worldwide, many of whom look to Jerusalem during Holy Week.
There was no immediate response from Israeli police regarding the incident.
The restrictions come amid heightened security measures following the ongoing conflict in the region, which began on February 28. Israeli authorities have since imposed limitations on large gatherings, affecting religious services across synagogues, churches, and mosques.
