Israeli authorities barred senior Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre — the traditional site of Jesus’ tomb — in what church officials described as the first such incident in centuries.
The move came as Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed a Catholic Maranite priest with a double-tap strike. The priest had stayed behind to minister to his parishioners during the Easter season when he was slaughter while tending to the wounded.
Meanwhile in Jerusalem, Israeli authorities blocked Christian leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday mass at the tomb of Christ.
“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.
“This incident is a grave precedent and disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem.”
Christians believe that the church is the site of Jesus’ burial and resurrection, making prayers at the site on Palm Sunday, which kicks off the week leading up to Easter, particularly significant.
Pizzaballa was seeking to pray privately at the site, not lead a major service as is typical.
Criticism over the closure resounded across the globe, including among allies of the Israeli government.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the closure as “an insult” and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called it “difficult to understand or justify” given that wartime rules prohibit only gatherings of 50 or more.
Due to the global outrage, Israeli authorities began negotiating a special arrangement that would allow Pizzaballa and a handful of other Christian leaders access to the holy sites without opening them widely.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he called Pizzaballa personally to express his commitment to religious freedom.