Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday to celebrate Mass, due to Israel’s ban on gatherings at religious sites during the Iran war. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said Iranian missiles had repeatedly targeted Jerusalem’s holy sites, with missile fragments landing near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Latin Patriarchate said it was the first time in centuries that the heads of the church were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the site, calling the incident a “grave precedent.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called it a “violation of religious freedom.” Following the backlash, Prime Minister Netanyahu said the Latin patriarch would receive “full and immediate access” to the church.
