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For the first time in centuries, Israel bans Catholic leaders from entering Jerusalem church

2026-03-29 20:59:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

For the first time in centuries, Israel bans Catholic leaders from entering

Israeli police have banned Catholic leaders from marking Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the first time in centuries.

Police prevented religious leaders, including Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the head of the Custos in the Holy Land, from celebrating Palm Sunday at the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead.

"This incident sets a grave precedent and disregards the sensitivities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look towards Jerusalem ," the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land said in a joint statement.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and begins Holy Week for Christians who follow the Latin calendar, which culminates with Easter the following Sunday.

Israeli police said all holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City had been closed to worshippers since the start of the war against Iran.

But the Latin Patriarchate said the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been hosting Masses that are not open to the public since the start of the war in Iran on February 28, and it was not clear why the approach to Sunday's Mass was different.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office denied any "malicious intent" after the decision to deny entry to Catholic leaders.

"Today, due to particular concern for his safety, Jerusalem police prevented Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pizzaballa from celebrating Mass this morning at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre," the office said in a post on X, adding that Israeli authorities were "drawing up a plan to enable church leaders to pray at the holy site in the coming days . " /CNA





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