Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday mass on March 28, 2026. Authorities cited security concerns and crowd control measures as the reason for the restriction.
The incident occurred as thousands of Christian pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem's Old City for the start of Holy Week. The Latin Patriarchate issued a statement expressing "deep regret" over the police action, which it said prevented the cardinal from fulfilling his pastoral duties at one of Christianity's holiest sites.
Israeli police stated that the restrictions were part of standard security protocols for large religious events in the area. Tensions in Jerusalem have been heightened in recent months, influencing security arrangements around major religious holidays.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is traditionally believed to be the site of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. The blocking of a senior Christian cleric from accessing the church on a major feast day is a rare occurrence and has drawn attention to the complexities of religious freedom and security in the contested city.
