The Israeli police prevented Catholic leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate mass for the Christian holiday Palm Sunday, the Latin Patriarchate said, adding that this was the first such ban in centuries.
Jerusalem’s major holy sites, including the church, are closed because of the continuing US-Israeli war on Iran, as Jerusalem has come under frequent fire from retaliatory Iranian missiles.
The Catholic Church called the police decision “a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure”.
It prevented two of the church’s top religious leaders, including Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the head of the Custos in the Holy Land, from celebrating Palm Sunday at the place where Christians believe Jesus was crucified.
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and marks the start of Holy Week for Christians who follow the Latin calendar, which culminates in Easter next Sunday.
The Israeli police said it had notified the Catholic Church on Saturday that no mass could take place on Palm Sunday because of safety considerations, the lack of access for emergency vehicles in narrow alleys of the Old City and the lack of adequate shelter.
However, the Latin Patriarchate said the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been hosting masses that are not open to the public since the war began on February 28, and it was unclear why Sunday’s mass and the two priests’ access were any different.
“It’s a very, very sacred day for Christians, and in our opinion, there was no justification for such a decision or such an action,” said Farid Jubran, the spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Jubran said the church had requested permission from the police for a few religious leaders to enter the church for a private mass on Sunday – not one that was open to the public. The Patriarchate said that the decision impeded freedom of worship and the status quo in Jerusalem.
The traditional Palm Sunday procession normally sees tens of thousands of Christians from around the world walk from the Mount of Olives down the narrow, hilly streets towards the Old City, waving palm fronds and singing.
The Patriarchate cancelled the traditional procession last week because of safety concerns and has held masses limited to fewer than 50 worshippers in compliance with the Israeli military’s guidelines for civilians.
Pizzaballa celebrated mass in the nearby St Saviour’s Monastery, a marble church next to an underground music school that the Israeli military has deemed a safe shelter.
Later on Sunday, Pizzaballa held a prayer for peace at the Dominus Flevit Shrine on the Mount of Olives, but kept his homily concentrated on Jesus and did not mention the morning’s incident.
Pope Leo, at the end of Palm Sunday mass in St Peter’s Square, prayed for all Christians in the Middle East who he said were living through an “atrocious” conflict. He said that “in many cases, they cannot live fully the rites of these holy days”, though he did not elaborate.
The Vatican spokesman did not immediately respond when asked to comment on the Jerusalem incident.
Italy, Spain condemn decision
Italy formally protested against the incident to Israeli authorities. Premier Giorgia Meloni said the police action “constitutes an offence not only against believers but against every community that recognises religious freedom”.
“The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is a sacred site of Christianity and, as such, must be preserved and protected for the celebration of sacred rites,” Meloni said.
“Preventing the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land from entering, especially on a solemnity central to the faith such as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offence not only against believers but against every community that recognises religious freedom.”
Meloni’s conservative government has said it believes in Israel’s right to defence but condemns the toll on Palestinians.
The Italian leader has also said Italy will not take part in the US-Israel war on Iran, while affirming that the Islamic Republic cannot be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani instructed Italy’s ambassador to Israel to convey the protest “and to reaffirm Italy’s commitment to protecting religious freedom at all times and under all circumstances”.
In addition, Tajani summoned the Israeli ambassador to Italy for talks on Monday at the Italian Foreign Ministry to seek clarification about the decision.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also denounced the move.
“Netanyahu has prevented Catholics from celebrating Palm Sunday at the holy sites in Jerusalem,” he posted on social media. “With no explanation whatsoever. With no reasons or justification.
“We condemn this unjustified attack on religious freedom and demand that Israel respect the diversity of faiths and international law. Because without tolerance, coexistence is impossible,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday evening that there was no “malicious intent”. He said the cardinal was prevented from accessing the church because of safety concerns, but that Israel would try to partially open the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the coming days.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
