JERUSALEM, March 29, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli police on Sunday prevented the Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to hold the Palm Sunday celebration marking the beginning of the Catholic Easter.

The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that the move came despite the Latin Patriarchate announcing that the cardinal's arrival had been coordinated in advance and that the ceremony would take place without any public attendance, with only the cardinal and three companions present.

In a joint statement, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land condemned the incident as a “serious precedent,” describing the measure as “blatantly unreasonable and entirely inappropriate.”

The statement said the decision represents a serious deviation from the fundamental principles of rationality, freedom of worship, and respect for the status quo governing holy sites. 

It also expressed deep regret to Christian believers in the Holy Land and around the world, noting that prayer on one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar had been prevented in this manner.

M.N