Israeli Police Bar Cardinal from Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday, Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate the traditional Palm Sunday Mass. This incident marks the first time in centuries that a head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land has been barred from conducting this significant ceremony.

The police's actions were described as a grave incident that disregards the sensitivities of billions of people worldwide during a crucial week in the Christian calendar. The police cited ongoing restrictions due to the Middle East conflict, which began on February 28, leading to a ban on large gatherings, including religious ceremonies.

Cardinal Pizzaballa had already announced the cancellation of the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives, which typically attracts thousands of worshippers. The incident has been criticized as an unreasonable and disproportionate measure that undermines the basic principles of freedom of worship and respect for the status quo in the Holy Land.