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Israeli police cites security threat amid war with Iran: Catholics, Muslims and Jews unable to properly celebrate major holidays
On Palm Sunday, March 27, Israeli police stopped the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and monk Francesco Ielpo as they were walking on foot toward the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — one of the most important Christian shrines in the world. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is traditionally believed to be built on the site where Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected. As a result, the cardinal was unable to celebrate the traditional mass “for the first time in centuries,” according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Reuters reported.
Police explained their actions by citing security concerns related to the ongoing war between Israel and Iran. According to security forces, all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City — Christian, Muslim, and Jewish — have been closed to worshippers since the beginning of the hostilities, especially those without bomb shelters. The Patriarchate’s request for a special exemption for Palm Sunday was rejected, with police arguing that the narrow streets of the Old City do not allow for the rapid deployment of emergency services, creating a real risk to life in the event of mass casualties.
Religions deprived of celebrations
The restriction affected all three major world religions:
Christians were unable to celebrate Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week — the most important week in the church calendar, culminating in Easter.
Muslims prayed in an almost empty Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
Jews had virtually no access to the Western Wall, although cleaners were still allowed to traditionally remove prayer notes ahead of Passover.
Residents of the Old City and religious leaders have pointed to inconsistencies in the application of restrictions. In particular, Muslim Waqf preachers had access to Al-Aqsa during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. On the same Palm Sunday, Franciscan monks and a small group of worshippers were allowed into another Christian shrine in the Old City just a few minutes’ walk from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
A Patriarchate spokesperson, Farid Jubran, clarified that police had been informed in advance: the mass was planned privately, behind closed doors. “But despite this, they insisted,” he said.
International outrage
The incident sparked criticism from Western leaders:
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the ban on religious leaders was “an insult not only to believers but to the entire community that upholds freedom of religion.”
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he would summon the Israeli ambassador for explanations.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the Israeli police decision, describing it as another sign of “a worrying increase in violations of the status of holy sites in Jerusalem.”
As of publication, neither the Israeli Foreign Ministry nor the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had commented. The Vatican also did not respond to requests for comment.
Notably, on the same Sunday, Pope Leo made unusually strong remarks, saying that God rejects the prayers of leaders who wage wars and keep “hands stained with blood.”
It is also worth noting that on Saturday, Pope Leo made a one-day visit to Monaco, a tax-free microstate on the French Riviera known as a haven for billionaires and luxury yachts, and called on its residents to share their wealth and help those in need.
