This came in a joint statement issued by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land, which explained that the police stopped the church officials on Sunday morning while they were heading out individually and without any festive displays, and forced them to return.
The statement said: "This morning, Israeli police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, along with the Custos of the Holy Land (in the Catholic Church), Father Francesco Ilbo, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass."
He added that "they were stopped on the road, while walking individually and without any festive or ritualistic displays, and were forced to turn back." He continued, "As a result, for the first time in centuries, the heads of the churches were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre."
Palm Sunday is the seventh Sunday of Great Lent, and the last one preceding Good Friday, which is followed by the commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ.
The statement described the ban as "a dangerous precedent that ignores the feelings of billions of people around the world who are looking forward to Jerusalem this week."
Referring to the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against Iran since February 28, he stated that the church leaders "acted with complete responsibility."
He continued, "Since the beginning of the war, they have adhered to all the restrictions imposed: public gatherings were cancelled, attendance was prohibited, and arrangements were made to broadcast the celebrations to hundreds of millions of believers around the world, who turn their eyes during the Easter holidays to Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre."
He added that preventing the cardinal and the guard from entering "represents a blatant departure from the basic principles of rationality and freedom of worship."
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land expressed their "deep sorrow to Christian believers in the Holy Land and throughout the world for the prevention of prayer on one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar."
On Saturday, church leaders in Jerusalem called on Israeli authorities to reopen the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as Easter approaches.
The Christian Easter of 2026 falls on April 5th in the Western calendar and on April 12th in the Eastern calendar. The celebrations include Good Friday prayers, Holy Saturday, and Easter Masses in Jerusalem.
The Palestinians emphasize that Israel is intensifying its attacks to Judaize the occupied city of Jerusalem, including its Christian and Islamic holy sites, and is working to obliterate its Arab identity.
The Palestinians insist on East Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for state, based on international legitimacy resolutions that do not recognize Israel’s occupation of the city in 1967 or its annexation in 1980.
Since February 28, Israeli authorities have closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Al-Aqsa Mosque, citing tensions in the region, amid Tel Aviv and Washington’s aggression against Tehran.
Centuries later, Muslims were unable to perform the Eid prayer due to the Israeli closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and now Catholic Christians are also unable to hold their mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Despite condemnations from Arab and Islamic countries, Israeli authorities continue to refuse to reopen the mosque and church to Palestinians, who consider the move "unjustified and politically motivated."
Since February 28, Israel and the United States have been launching attacks on Iran, killing at least 1,500 people – including hundreds of children and women – most notably former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in addition to more than 15,000 wounded and widespread destruction, according to Tehran.
Tehran responds by launching missiles and drones towards Israel, killing at least 22 people and injuring 5,229, in addition to attacks that killed 13 American soldiers and injured 303.
Iran is being subjected to aggression despite making progress in negotiations with the United States regarding the nuclear program, as attested to by the Omani mediator. This is the second time that Israel has turned its back on the negotiating table, and the first time it started the June 2025 war.
