For the first time in centuries, Israel did not allow the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Israel did not allow the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the Custodian of the Holy Land Francesco Patton to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, marking the first such incident by local authorities in several hundred years.
In particular, Pizzaballa and Patton were heading to the church to celebrate Palm Sunday — a Christian holiday commemorating the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem, which is observed exactly one week before Easter. In Russia, it is celebrated as Palm Sunday. The clergy were going there as private visitors, but their way was blocked.
"As a result, for the first time in centuries, church leaders were forbidden to hold the Palm Sunday mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This incident is a serious precedent and disregards the feelings of billions of people around the world who turn their eyes to Jerusalem this week," the agency quoted from a statement.
Last year, Pope Leo XIV called on Iran and Israel to exercise common sense when a conflict erupted between the two countries. The head of the Roman Catholic Church reminded the leaders of the states of their responsibility and the necessity to work together for the sake of peace worldwide.
