Jerusalem, March 30, 2026
Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Photo: gallerybyzantium.com
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced late Sunday that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, would have “full and immediate access” to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, reversing a decision by Israeli police that drew international condemnation after the cardinal was turned away from Christianity’s holiest site on Palm Sunday, reports the BBC.
The decision to block the Latin clerics came as Orthodox Christians were already concerned about the possibility of celebrating the Holy Fire and Paschal services in the Holy Sepulchre in two weeks.
Police had blocked Cardinal Pizzaballa and the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, from entering the church as they attempted to hold a private Mass to mark the start of Holy Week.
“For the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” the Latin Patriarchate said, calling it “a grave precedent” that “disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world.”
Israeli authorities said all holy sites in the Old City had been closed since the start of the war with Iran, which began on 28 February, citing security concerns including the difficulty of emergency vehicle access. Critics noted inconsistencies, however: senior correspondent Lahav Harkov of Jewish Insider pointed out that police had allowed a rabbi to conduct private prayers at the Western Wall during the same period.
The incident drew condemnation from French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who called it an “unfortunate overreach.” Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to the Christians of the Middle East who “cannot fully live the rites of these holy days.” Cardinal Pizzaballa held Mass instead at the Church of All Nations on the Mount of Olives, where he said: “War will not erase the resurrection. Grief will not extinguish hope.”
Netanyahu claimed the initial decision had involved “no malicious intent” and subsequently instructed authorities to restore the patriarch’s access to the church.
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