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On Palm Sunday, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, along with several other significant religious sites, remained closed due to wartime restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities. This closure disrupted one of the most sacred days in Christianity, marking the fifth week of the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
The Catholic Church criticized the decision to close these sites, denouncing it as “manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate.”
Israeli police expressed regret over the restrictions that affected worship activities, emphasizing the challenge of “balancing freedom” with ensuring “public safety.”
In a video statement, Israeli police addressed the controversy surrounding religious freedoms, stating, “Under Home Front Command directives, life-saving restrictions apply to all holy sites in the Old City — for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.” They further explained, “The Old City has been targeted by deadly missiles multiple times this month, in addition to ongoing attacks on residential areas.” The statement was shared on social media platform X, offering context to the measures taken.
Issa Kassissieh, a well-known Christian figure in Jerusalem celebrated for his role as the city’s Santa Claus, stood at the locked doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, holding a cross and a palm frond. This poignant image followed the cancellation of the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives, underscoring the disruption caused by the closures. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
“These threats do not discriminate between religions, and neither does our duty to protect you,” the statement continued. “We are in active dialogue with religious leaders, including an upcoming meeting with the Patriarch, to examine solutions that balance freedom of worship with public safety.”
The Latin Patriarchate said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Father Francesco Ielpo were stopped by Israeli police while trying to reach the church privately to celebrate Mass, after the traditional Palm Sunday procession had already been canceled.
Israel President Isaac Herzog called the restricted worshipers to “express my great sorrow over this morning’s unfortunate incident.”
“I clarified that the incident stemmed from security concerns due to the continuous threat of missile attacks from the Iranian terror regime against the civilian population in Israel, following previous incidents in which Iranian missiles fell in the area of the Old City of Jerusalem in recent days,” he wrote Sunday on X. “I reaffirmed the State of Israel’s unwavering commitment to freedom of religion for all faiths and to upholding the status quo at the holy sites of Jerusalem.”
The Italian government rebuked what it called an “offense” on “religious freedom” in the Holy Land.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, held a prayer service to mark Palm Sunday, following the cancellation of the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives, amid restrictions on gathering in large groups and the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. (Ammar Awad/Pool)
“The Italian government expresses closeness to Cardinal Pizzaballa, Father Ielpo and the religious who have been prevented today by the Israeli authorities from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass in the Holy Sepulchre,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote in a statement. “The Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a sacred place of Christianity, and as such to be preserved and protected for the celebration of sacred rites. Preventing the entry of the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Keeper of the Holy Land, moreover in a central solemnity for the faith such as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offense not only for believers, but for every community that recognizes religious freedom.”
The Latin Patriarchate said the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been hosting Masses that are not open to the public since the Iran war began Feb. 28, and it was unclear why Sunday’s Mass and access by the two priests was any different.
“It’s a very, very sacred day for Christians and in our opinion there was no justification for such a decision or such an action,” Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem spokesperson Farid Jubran said.
The church had requested permission from the police, he added, for a few religious leaders to enter the church for a private Mass on Sunday — not one that was open to the public.
Pope Leo XIV, at the end of Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prayed for all Christians in the Middle East who he said were living through an “atrocious” conflict. He said, “in many cases, they cannot live fully the rites of these holy days,” though he did not elaborate.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday evening that there was no “malicious intent” and that the cardinal was prevented from accessing the church because of safety concerns, but that Israel would try to partially open the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
“Given the holiness of the week leading up to Easter for the world’s Christians, Israel’s security arms are putting together a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days,” Netanyahu wrote on X.
The Western Wall, a holy site for Jews, is also mostly closed because of safety issues, but authorities are letting up to 50 people at a time pray in an enclosed area adjacent to the plaza.
Smaller churches, synagogues and mosques are open in Jerusalem’s Old City if they are located within a certain distance of a bomb shelter deemed acceptable by Israel’s military and, if gatherings are kept under 50 people.