Israeli police prevented Catholic leaders from holding a Palm Sunday mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, an action church officials described as occurring “for the first time in centuries.” Authorities cited security concerns and a ban on large gatherings since the war with Iran began, but the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land jointly condemned the move as “a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure.”
Two top religious figures, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the head of the Custos in the Holy Land, were blocked from celebrating at the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and resurrected. In a statement, the church authorities noted that the leaders were proceeding privately without a ceremonial procession and “were compelled to turn back,” calling the incident “a grave precedent” that “disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem.”
Israeli police defended the decision, stating that all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City have been closed to worshippers since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran, citing the area’s complex layout that hinders access for large emergency and rescue vehicles, thereby posing “a real risk to human life in the event of a mass casualty incident.” However, Farid Jubran, spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate, countered that the church has been hosting masses not open to the public since the war began on February 28 and argued there was “no justification for such a decision.”
In response to criticism, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied any “malicious intent,” claiming police acted “out of special concern for his safety” regarding Cardinal Pizzaballa. The office added that authorities are “putting together a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days,” but this did not alleviate the international backlash.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the police action against Pizzaballa and the Custos, both Italian nationals, labeling it “an insult not only to the faithful, but also to every community recognizing freedom of worship.” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that the Israeli ambassador to Italy would be summoned on Monday to explain the decision, escalating diplomatic tensions over the issue.
Source: www.dw.com