jpost.com
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem prevented from entering Church of Holy Sepulchre by Israel Police
Updated: MARCH 29, 2026 20:44

Israel's Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office announced that the police would be working on a security plan to enable the church leaders to worship at the holy site in upcoming days.

The Israel Police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said. Pizzaballa, accompanied by the official guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Father Francesco Ielpo, was going to the church to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass when police stopped them and forced them to turn back, it said Traditional Palm Sunday celebrations and the annual procession into Jerusalem had been canceled due to ongoing security concerns and restrictions imposed by Home Front Command.
Pizzaballa and Ielpo had been making their way “privately and without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act” when the police stopped them, the Patriarchate said. It was the first time in centuries that the heads of the church were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, it said. “This incident is a grave precedent and disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem,” the Patriarchate said. “The heads of the churches have acted with full responsibility and, since the outset of the war, have complied with all imposed restrictions: Public gatherings were canceled, attendance was prohibited, and arrangements were made to broadcast the celebrations to hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide, who, during these days of Easter, turn their eyes to Jerusalem and to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” it said. The prevention of Pizzaballa’s entry into the church was a “manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure,” the Patriarchate said. “This hasty and fundamentally flawed decision, tainted by improper considerations, represents an extreme departure from basic principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the status quo,” it said. The Patriarchate said it was expressing its sorrow to Christians across the world who were expecting the patriarch’s prayer within the church.
In response, the Israel Police said the patriarch’s request to pray at the church had been previously reviewed and denied due to the security situation. “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,” it said.
Israeli Ambassador to Italy Jonathan Peled was summoned to the Italian Foreign Ministry to explain the incident. Various foreign embassies also requested explanations from the Israeli Foreign Ministry. In response, the Foreign Ministry said there was a substantial risk to life in the Old City due to the ongoing war with Iran. The police would be meeting with Pizzaballa following the event “to explore solutions that allow for as normal a routine as possible while ensuring public safety,” it said. The Prime Minister’s Office said there had been “no malicious intent whatsoever” by the police. “Out of special concern for his safety, Jerusalem police prevented the Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pizzaballa from holding mass this morning at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” it said, adding that Israeli security officials were devising a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the site.
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