For the first time in centuries, senior Catholic leaders were prevented from entering Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, one of the most sacred days in the Christian calendar, triggering sharp international criticism and a wave of diplomatic responses. The incident, which unfolded against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions and ongoing conflict involving Iran, drew condemnation from church authorities, foreign governments and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who described the move as an “unfortunate overreach”.
What happened: clergy turned back on Palm Sunday
According to a joint press release issued by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land on March 29, Israeli police stopped Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the most senior Catholic authority in the region, along with Francesco Ielpo and two other priests as they made their way to the church.
FILE – Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa arrives for a college of cardinals’ meeting at the Vatican, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
The statement emphasised that the group had been travelling quietly, noting they were “proceeding privately and without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act” when they were compelled to turn back. As a result, the Patriarchate said it marked a historic rupture, “for the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.” The church, widely revered as the site where Jesus Christ is believed to have been crucified, buried and resurrected, holds profound significance for Christians worldwide, particularly during Holy Week.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem/ Photo via https://www.planetware.com
Describing the decision as unprecedented, the Patriarchate warned it “disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem,” adding that church leaders had already complied with wartime restrictions, including cancelling public gatherings, prohibiting attendance and arranging broadcasts so “hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide” could still follow the celebrations.It went further, calling the move “a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure” and a “hasty and fundamentally flawed decision,” warning it represents “a grave precedent” and an “extreme departure from basic principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the Status Quo.”
Why Palm Sunday, and this church, matters
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, when, according to the Gospels, crowds laid palm branches along his path. In Jerusalem, the day is traditionally marked by a large procession beginning at Bethphage on the Mount of Olives and descending into the Old City via Lions’ Gate, an event that draws thousands of pilgrims annually.
Christians walk in the Palm Sunday procession on the Mount of Olives in east Jerusalem, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre stands at the centre of these observances. It is regarded by many Christians as the holiest site in Christianity, believed to encompass both the crucifixion site (Golgotha) and Jesus’ tomb. Holy Week culminates in Easter Sunday, making this period the most sacred stretch in the Christian liturgical calendar. Restrictions affecting access to the church during this time therefore carry both religious and symbolic weight far beyond Jerusalem.
Israel’s explanation: security fears amid Iran conflict
Israeli authorities, according to The Jerusalem Post, framed the decision as a security measure linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran, noting that the patriarch’s request to pray at the church had been previously reviewed and denied due to the security situation. In a statement, Israeli police said the Old City’s layout “does not allow access for large emergency and rescue vehicles,” warning this significantly challenges response capabilities and poses “a real risk to human life in the event of a mass casualty incident.” Police added that all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City had been closed to worshippers, particularly those without protected spaces, in order “to safeguard public safety and security.”Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an X post that he had intervened after learning of the incident, following international outrage, stating he had instructed authorities to grant Cardinal Pizzaballa “full and immediate access” to the church. He linked the restrictions directly to recent attacks, saying Iran had “repeatedly targeted the holy sites of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles,” with one strike landing fragments just metres from the church. Framing the broader policy, Netanyahu said Israel had asked members of all faiths “to temporarily abstain from worshipping” at key sites in the Old City to protect civilians, adding that Pizzaballa had specifically been asked to refrain from holding Mass “out of special concern for his safety.” Even though he understood this concern, Netanyahu said that as soon as he learned about the incident with Cardinal Pizzaballa, he “instructed the authorities to enable the Patriarch to hold services as he wishes.” His office later acknowledged the sensitivity of the timing, saying security agencies were now working on a plan to enable church leaders to worship during Holy Week. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also moved to defuse tensions, saying he had spoken with Pizzaballa to apologise and express his “great sorrow,” explaining that the incident stemmed from “the continuous threat of missile attacks from the Iranian terror regime” following recent strikes near the Old City.
International backlash and diplomatic fallout
The decision drew swift criticism beyond Israel. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said the move was “an unfortunate overreach already having major repercussions around the world,” arguing that while limiting large gatherings may be justified, preventing a private visit was “difficult to understand or justify.” Italy responded at the highest level. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the Church of the Holy Sepulchre “is a sacred place of Christianity, and as such must be preserved and protected,” warning that blocking church leaders amounted to “an insult not only to believers, but to every community that recognizes religious freedom.” Italy’s foreign ministry summoned Israeli Ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled to explain the incident, while other foreign embassies also sought clarification from Israel’s foreign ministry.French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that he “express[es] full support for the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Christians in the Holy Land, who were prevented from celebrating the Sunday Mass of Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.” He condemned the Israeli police decision, calling it part of “a disturbing sequence of violations of the status quo of the holy places in Jerusalem,” and added that “freedom of worship in Jerusalem must be ensured for all religions.” The controversy comes amid wider tensions over access to religious sites. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey jointly condemned Israel’s closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to Muslim worshippers, describing such restrictions as a “flagrant violation” of international law.
A broader pattern of restrictions, and a symbolic rupture
The Patriarchate said the Palm Sunday incident was not an isolated mistake but part of growing pressure on religious life in the city during wartime. Cardinal Pizzaballa himself described the situation as “a wound that adds to many others inflicted by the conflict,” a remark that captures how deeply the restrictions are being felt within the Christian community. According to reporting cited by CNN, the constraints extend across faiths: Jewish worship at the Western Wall has been limited to 50 people a day, while Muslims have been barred entirely from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque since the conflict escalated in late February, including throughout Ramadan.
