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.

‏‏Foreign Ministry: Preventing the Latin Patriarch from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday is a crime affecting both the Christian and Muslim worlds and requires urgent international intervention

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemned in the harshest terms the Israeli occupation authorities’ prevention of His Beatitude the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied Jerusalem to perform Palm Sunday Mass. This comes as a dangerous precedent that undermines freedom of worship and targets the authentic Christian presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, said the ministry in a statement.

The Ministry affirmed that this arbitrary prevention, which has not occurred for centuries against church leaders performing their religious rituals, constitutes a crime and an illegal military measure. “It is a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them freedom of worship.”

It also represents a disregard for the feelings of hundreds of millions of people around the world, and affects the sentiments of both Christians and Muslims who share the sanctity of Jerusalem and its religious and historical significance, added the ministry in a statement. “It further constitutes a violation of the existing legal and historical status quo.”

The Ministry warned of the danger of this precedent, which represents an assault by the occupation on existing obligations, and reveals an escalating policy in occupied Jerusalem aimed at displacing our people and Judaizing the holy city. It threatens to deprive worshippers of practicing their religious rituals, even during the holiest of occasions.

The Ministry called on the international community and its institutions to take immediate and practical steps to stop this crime and the escalating occupation policy in occupied Jerusalem, including exerting pressure on the extremist occupation government and increasing international presence on the ground to preserve the Palestinian Christian presence, ensure they are not deprived of their rights, and guarantee respect for freedom of worship and access to holy sites, and the protection of the existing historical and legal status quo. It also calls for providing international protection for the Palestinian people and for their Islamic and Christian holy sites, in light of the continued systematic and widespread Israeli assaults, crimes, and ongoing violations.

Jordan condemns the prevention of the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs strongly condemned the Israeli occupation's prevention of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and holding Palm Sunday Mass, as reported by Jordan’s Petra news agency.

The ministry said the Israeli step is a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, Jerusalem's historical and legal status quo, and the right of unimpeded access to places of worship.

In a statement, the ministry spokesperson Fuaad Majali said Jordan "firmly condemns and categorically" rejects Israel's unlawful restrictive measures against Christians and their free access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to perform their religious rites.

Stressing the need to respect Jerusalem's historical and legal status quo and its holy sites, he affirmed that Israel, as the occupying power, has no sovereignty over Jerusalem and must halt all measures that obstruct worshippers' access to their places of worship.

Majali also renewed Jordan's condemnation of Israel's continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque to worshippers and its restrictions on freedom of worship, calling it a grave violation of international law, the historical and legal status quo, and Israel's obligations as an occupying power. He warned of the dangers of continued such measures.

He urged the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities and compel Israel to stop its violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and respect the city's historical and legal status.

In this context, he called for the fulfillment of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent and sovereign state on their national soil on the basis of the two-state solution.

French President affirms support for Christians in the Holy Land, condemns prevention of Palm Sunday Mass at Church of Holy Sepulchre

French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed his full support for the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem and for Christians in the Holy Land, who were prevented from holding Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Macron condemned the decision issued by the occupation police, considering it part of an alarming increase in violations targeting the historical status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem.

He stressed that freedom to practice religious rituals in Jerusalem must be guaranteed for all religions.

Italian Prime Minister condemns prevention of Latin patriarch from entering Church of Holy Sepulchre

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned what she described as an “insult to believers,” referring to the prevention of the Latin Patriarch from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by Israeli police. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was accompanied by the Custodian of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, while heading to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass according to the Western calendar.

Meanwhile, the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he had summoned the Israeli ambassador in Rome to protest the action.

He expressed solidarity with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custodian of the Holy Land, emphasizing that it is unacceptable to prevent them from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

He added that, for the first time, Israeli police have prevented Catholic Church leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at one of the holiest sites for millions of believers worldwide.

He confirmed that he issued immediate instructions to Italy’s ambassador to Israel to convey the government’s protest to authorities in Tel Aviv and reaffirm Italy’s commitment to protecting freedom of religion at all times.

He also instructed the Foreign Ministry to summon the Israeli ambassador to request clarifications regarding the decision that blocked the Latin Patriarch from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass.

Lebanese President condemns the prevention of Cardinal Pizzaballa from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

 Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the prevention of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass by Israeli police.

During a phone call on Sunday with the Latin Patriarch in Lebanon, Cesar Assayan, President Aoun described the measure as a blatant violation of freedom of worship and a flagrant breach of international law and international humanitarian law, conveying Lebanon’s condemnation, on behalf of the President and the people, of the act.

M.N./T.R.