Tensions Rise as Israeli Authorities Restrict Cardinal’s Access to Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday

Israel initially barred Jerusalem’s Catholic cardinal from participating in Palm Sunday services at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, leading to widespread backlash that prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to lift the restriction for the rest of Holy Week.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that Israeli police stopped Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Friar Francesco Ielpo from accessing the Holy Sepulchre, a revered site believed by Christians to be where Jesus was crucified and resurrected.

The authorities justified the ban by citing security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran.

“As a consequence, and for the first time in many centuries, Church leaders were unable to conduct Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” the Patriarchate stated.

Shortly after midnight, Netanyahu announced on social media that he had directed officials to ensure the cardinal receives immediate and unrestricted access.

“Today, out of special concern for his safety, Cardinal Pizzaballa was asked ‌to refrain from holding Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” he said.

“Even though I understand this concern, as soon as I learned about the incident with Cardinal Pizzaballa, I instructed the authorities to enable the Patriarch to hold services as he wishes.”

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.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday the US ⁠expressed concerns to Israel regarding the holy site closures.

“We want worshippers to be able to access these holy sites,”

Leavitt told ‌reporters: “Of course, safety is a top priority, but we understand Israel is working on those security measures to reopen the sites throughout Holy Week, and that’s something that we’re appreciative of.”

Restrictions affect Easter, Ramadan, Passover

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most important week in the Christian calendar, leading to Easter.

The Old City would typically be busy, with Roman Catholics passing through the massive wooden doors of the Holy Sepulchre.

This year, Christians, Muslims and Jews have been unable to observe Easter, Ramadan or Passover as usual due to police restrictions. Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque was largely empty during Ramadan, and few worshippers have come to Judaism’s Western Wall as ⁠Passover approaches on Wednesday.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the police action and foreign minister Antonio Tajani ⁠said on social media that he would summon Israel’s ambassador over the incident.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron condemned the Israeli police’s decision, which he said “adds to the worrying increase in violations of the status of the Holy Places in Jerusalem”.

US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said denying the Patriarch’s entry to the church on Palm Sunday was “difficult to understand ‌or justify”.

The Vatican did not respond to a request for comment.

On Sunday, Pope Leo said that God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have “hands full of blood”, in unusually forceful remarks as the Iran war entered its second month.

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