Israeli police prevent Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem church

Key Points:

• Israeli police barred Catholic leaders, including Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate a private Palm Sunday Mass due to safety concerns amid ongoing Iranian missile attacks on Jerusalem.
• The Latin Patriarchate condemned the decision as disproportionate and an infringement on religious freedom, noting that private Masses had continued since the conflict began, and questioned why this instance was treated differently.
• The closure sparked international criticism, with the U.S., France, and Italy condemning the restrictions as excessive and harmful to the status quo of Jerusalem's holy sites; Italy formally protested and summoned Israel’s ambassador for clarification.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited security reasons for the closure but promised efforts to allow partial access to the church during Holy Week, emphasizing no malicious intent behind the decision.
• The incident highlights tensions between maintaining security amid conflict and preserving religious freedoms in Jerusalem, with limited access also affecting other holy sites like the Western Wall.