Israeli police blocked the top Catholic official in Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, triggering an international uproar that drew criticism from U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, world leaders, and Catholic institutions worldwide.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Reverend Francesco Ielpo, the official guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, were stopped by Israeli police as they made their way to celebrate a Palm Sunday Mass.
The Latin Patriarchate stated that the two were “stopped en route, while proceeding privately and without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act, and were compelled to turn back,” reported The Hill.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement that the incident marked “the first time in centuries” that heads of the Catholic Church were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the church.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is considered the holiest site in Christianity.
It is built where many believe Jesus was crucified, and Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path.
Jerusalem’s major holy sites, including the church, are closed because of the ongoing Iran war, as the city has come under frequent fire from Iranian missiles.
The Hill further noted that Netanyahu’s office explained that Iran has “repeatedly targeted the holy sites of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles,” with one strike sending missile fragments crashing “meters” from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Israeli police stated that “the Old City and the holy sites constitute a complex area that does not allow access for large emergency and rescue vehicles, which significantly challenges response capabilities and poses a real risk to human life in the event of a mass casualty incident.”
Ambassador Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israel, took to X to express his opposition to the police action.
Huckabee wrote that the decision by Israel’s police “to deny Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and three other priests from entering the Church to offer a blessing on Palm Sunday is an unfortunate overreach already having major repercussions around the world.”
Huckabee pointed out that “Home Front Command Guidelines restrict any gatherings to 50 people or fewer,” and that “the 4 representatives of the Catholic Church were well below that restriction,” adding that “synagogues, and mosques throughout Jerusalem have met with the restrictions of 50 or less.”
Huckabee stated directly: “For the Patriarch to be barred from entry to the Church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony is difficult to understand or justify. Israel has indicated it will work with the Patriarch to accommodate a safe means of carrying out Holy Week activities.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) concurred with Huckabee on X, writing, “This was a mistake by the Israeli police. The security concerns are real, but they should not have prevented the Patriarch from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to conduct the Palm Sunday blessing.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote on X that he called Pizzaballa to “express my great sorrow” over the “unfortunate incident,” adding that he clarified the police action stemmed from “security concerns.”
Netanyahu’s office stated there was “no malicious intent whatsoever,” and that “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.”
