"Agreement with Pizzaballa on Easter celebrations." Ambassador Peled to the Farnesina

Easter celebrations in Jerusalem will be held this year “in a symbolic and limited format” due to the “complex security situation” related to the US and Israel’s war against Iran. This was revealed in a message on X from the Israel Police, which states that the decision was made in agreement with the Cardinal. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, following a “productive” meeting. This coordination, the statement reads, “ensures that freedom of worship is preserved, alongside our primary and shared duty: the protection of human life.” In recent weeks, “Iranian missiles and debris have struck within the Old City (of Jerusalem). These restrictions, aimed at saving lives, are a direct response to a real and imminent danger to all believers,” the Israeli police said. The same statement clarifies that the decision will also affect the so-called Holy Fire, described by Orthodox Christians as a miracle that occurs annually at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on the day before Orthodox Easter.

The announcement comes after yesterday, March 29, the Israeli police decided to prevent Cardinal Pizzaballa and the custodian of the Holy Land, Monsignor Francesco Ielpo, to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, on their way to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. For his part, in an exclusive interview with Tg2000, Pizzaballa explained that there had been some misunderstandings, “we didn’t understand each other, and that’s what happened. It’s never happened before; it’s unfortunate that this happened.” There were no clashes, the cardinal emphasized, adding: “Everything was done very politely. I don’t want to force things; we want to use this situation to better clarify in the coming days what to do, respecting everyone’s safety but also respecting the right to prayer.” What happened yesterday, according to Pizzaballa, is important, “but we must think about the bigger picture. There are people who are much worse off than us who cannot celebrate for very different reasons. Once again, we are celebrating a subdued Easter.”

The Israeli ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Pele, explained that this morning he had “a very open dialogue” at the Farnesina, where he went after being summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio TajaniIn an interview with “RTL 102.5,” Peled spoke about the confrontation. Ambassador Peled reportedly explained to the Foreign Ministry that “this occurred for security reasons, but I would add that we regret the incident and that we have now found a solution so that the patriarch and the Christian community can, in very limited numbers, celebrate Easter despite being under Iranian missile attack.” Every incident, according to Peled, “is an opportunity to learn from. We could all have acted differently: perhaps even our police forces.” Perhaps, “however, the patriarch was a bit reckless. The Italian government was quick to condemn what happened. I think we’ve all learned our lesson,” the Israeli ambassador stated. “We must be more careful, more cautious, and ensure that such incidents don’t happen again, out of respect, in fact, for Christians, Catholics, and all faiths, including Muslims and Jews,” Peled emphasized.

According to the ambassador, “this was not a violation of freedom of worship for the simple reason that neither Jews nor Muslims can nor will be able to travel to the Holy City of Jerusalem while we are under Iranian missile attack. Therefore, this decision was made to ensure the safety of the patriarch and his people.” It was the first time in centuries of history that the Israeli police denied the leaders of the Catholic Church the ability to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the holiest sites for millions of faithful worldwide. “This is the first time in centuries that a Persian nation called Iran has launched ballistic missiles against Israel,” Peled commented. “This is a war we have never experienced before, but we understand the sensitivity, the meaning of Palm Sunday, its importance for the patriarch, and therefore we reached an agreement with him today to allow very limited participation in Easter, while respecting all restrictions and security measures,” he said.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land confirm, in a statement, that all issues relating to the Holy Week and Easter celebrations at the Holy Sepulchre have been addressed and resolved in coordination with the competent authorities. In agreement with the Israel Police, church representatives have been granted access to allow liturgies and ceremonies to take place and to preserve the ancient Easter traditions in Christianity’s holiest site. However, in light of the current state of war, restrictions on public gatherings remain in place. For this reason, “Vatican News” reports, churches will ensure live broadcasts of liturgies and prayers, allowing faithful in the Holy Land and around the world to participate spiritually. The religious authorities expressed sincere gratitude to Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, for his “timely and decisive” intervention. They also expressed gratitude to the heads of state and officials who took swift action, many of whom personally expressed their closeness and support.

The statement emphasizes that religious faith represents a supreme human value, shared by all religions: Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze, and others. Especially in times of difficulty and conflict, such as the current one, the protection of freedom of worship is recognized as a fundamental and shared duty. Church authorities hope that appropriate solutions will continue to be found to allow prayer in places of worship, particularly in holy sites, reconciling security concerns with the right to religious practice, which is fundamental for hundreds of millions of believers worldwide. The Church maintains an ongoing dialogue with the authorities, including the Israel Police, while renewing its prayers for an end to the war that is severely impacting the entire region, according to “Vatican News.” Finally, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land reaffirm their commitment to dialogue, mutual respect, and the preservation of the status quo in the holy sites.

The president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, welcomed the agreements reached this morning. This was stated in an official statement, which stated that a representative of the Israeli President’s Office was also present at the meeting between the Police and Pizzaballa. “I reiterate the State of Israel’s unwavering commitment to ensuring freedom of worship for people of all faiths and the importance of maintaining the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem,” Herzog said. “On behalf of the State of Israel, I extend my warmest wishes for the upcoming Easter holiday to the Latin Patriarch, to our Christian sisters and brothers in the Holy Land, and to our Christian friends throughout the Middle East and the world,” the president added.

“Agreement with Pizzaballa on Easter celebrations.” Ambassador Peled to the Farnesina

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