Vatican Says Israel Blocking Holy Sepulchre for ‘First Time in Centuries’

Israeli police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ielpo, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, the two highest Catholic officials in the Holy Land said in a joint statement on Sunday.

The Patriarchate and Custody said the Palm Sunday liturgy at the Holy Sepulchre—one of Christianity’s holiest sites—could not be celebrated by the heads of the church “for the first time in centuries,” calling the incident in Jerusalem’s Old City “a grave precedent.”

The Israeli police said it had notified the Catholic Church on Saturday that no Mass could take place on Palm Sunday because of safety considerations, the lack of access for emergency vehicles in narrow alleys of the Old City and lack of adequate shelter, the Associated Press reported.

Meanwhile, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem had already canceled the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives, according to AFP.

Newsweek reached out to the Israeli Police for comment by email Sunday.

Why It Matters

Palm Sunday is a major Christian feast celebrated on the Sunday before Easter to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, marking the beginning of Holy Week.

Authorities have maintained wartime restrictions on large public gatherings in Jerusalem amid the Iran war that began in late February, impacting synagogues, churches, and mosques. Jerusalem’s major holy sites are closed as the city has come under frequent fire from Iranian missiles.

Church leaders said they had already canceled public processions and arranged broadcasts for the faithful in compliance with the restrictions.

What To Know

In their joint statement, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land said Israeli police stopped Cardinal Pizzaballa and Father Ielpo as they made their way “privately” to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and “compelled” them to turn back.

The Patriarchate and Custody called the event “a grave precedent,” saying, “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 leaders said the decision disregarded “the sensibilities of billions of people around the world” who focus on Jerusalem during Holy Week, noting the church had arranged broadcasts to “hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide.”

The statement said since the outset of the Iran war, church authorities had canceled public gatherings, prohibited attendance, and arranged to broadcast celebrations, asserting Sunday’s access denial was “manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate.”

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was no “malicious intent,” adding the cardinal was prevented from accessing the church because of safety concerns, the AP reported. The prime minister said Israel would try to partially open the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the coming days.

“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,” he wrote on X.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote in an X post that he called Cardinal Pizzaballa to express his “great sorrow over this morning’s unfortunate incident in the Old City of Jerusalem.”

“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,” Herzog added. “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.”

Israel’s foreign ministry also wrote on X that “all safety and precautionary instructions in the Old City are a direct result of Iranian missile fire.”

“As is known, the Iranian regime has fired on the Old City on multiple occasions, striking sites in the vicinity of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Western Wall,” the ministry wrote. “In light of this, and in order to protect the lives of worshippers of all faiths, precautionary instructions have been issued for all holy sites of all religions, and mass gatherings are not possible. The concern over a mass-casualty event in the Old City is particularly acute given the area’s density and the difficulty of deploying first responders in such an incident. The police will meet with Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and work to explore solutions that allow for as normal a routine as possible while ensuring public safety.”

Israeli police wrote on X that “life-saving restrictions apply to all holy sites in the Old City—for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike,” adding, “The Old City has been targeted by murderous missiles multiple times this month, alongside constant fire on residential areas. These threats do not discriminate between religions, and neither does our duty to protect you. 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.”

What Is the Holy Sepulchre?

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered by many Christians as the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, traditionally hosts Palm Sunday liturgies that mark the start of Holy Week.

What People Are Saying

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, per the AP: “The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is a sacred site of Christianity, and as such must be preserved and protected for the celebration of sacred rites. Preventing the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land from entering, especially on a solemnity central to the faith such as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offense not only against believers but against every community that recognizes religious freedom.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X Sunday: “I express my full support for the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem and for the Christians in the Holy Land, who were prevented from holding the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. I condemn this decision issued by the Israeli police, which comes in the context of the alarming increase in violations targeting the status quo of the holy places in Jerusalem. Freedom to hold religious rites in Jerusalem must be ensured for all religions.”

This story contains reporting from the Associated Press.

Update 3/29/26, 11:50 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it’s not “both sides,” it’s sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.

When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.