A rare confrontation in Jerusalem’s Old City has triggered international criticism after Catholic leaders were blocked from entering one of Christianity’s most sacred locations.
According to the New York Post, Israeli authorities prevented senior clergy from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, citing security risks tied to ongoing regional tensions.
Among those stopped were Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Francesco Ielpo, along with two other priests, as they attempted to visit the church for private prayer early Sunday, according to Catholic officials.
The restriction followed an earlier decision barring large gatherings at the site, including Mass, as authorities pointed to concerns over potential attacks linked to the conflict involving Iran.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee publicly criticized the move, arguing that while limiting crowds may be justified, stopping a small group of clergy went too far.
“The action today by the Israel Nat’l Police to deny Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and 3 other priests from entering the Church to offer a blessing on Palm Sunday is an unfortunate overreach already having major repercussions around the world,” Huckabee wrote.
He emphasized that the planned visit fell within existing safety guidelines.
“For the Patriarch to be barred from entry to the Church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony is difficult to understand or justify,” Huckabee said. “Israel has indicated it will work with the Patriarch to accommodate a safe means of carrying out Holy Week activities.”
Israeli police defended their actions, pointing to the challenges of securing the Old City.
“The Old City and the holy sites constitute a complex area that does not allow access for large emergency and rescue vehicles, which significantly challenges response capabilities and poses a real risk to human life in the event of a mass casualty incident,” officials said.
Leaders in Israel also sought to ease tensions following the incident. The office of Benjamin Netanyahu said there had been “no malicious intent whatsoever,” noting that a fragment from an Iranian missile had recently landed near the church.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he personally reached out to Pizzaballa to express regret.
“I clarified that the incident stemmed from security concerns due to the continuous threat of missile attacks from the Iranian terror regime against the civilian population in Israel, following previous incidents in which Iranian missiles fell in the area of the Old City of Jerusalem in recent days,” Herzog said.
Catholic organizations, including the Patriarchate and the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, strongly condemned the move, calling it unprecedented.
“This incident is a grave precedent, and disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem,” they said in a joint statement.
They further described the decision as “a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure.”
The fallout extended beyond the region, with Italy’s foreign ministry summoning Israel’s ambassador to Rome to address the situation.
The episode marks what Catholic officials say is the first time in centuries that top church leaders have been prevented from observing Palm Sunday at the historic site.
