Police stopped the two church leaders on their way as they were proceeding privately “without any ceremonial or liturgical manifestations,” and forced them to turn back.
In an incident described as unprecedented, Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, along with Father Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land and the official responsible for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the church as they made their way to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass.
According to a joint statement issued March 29 by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land, police stopped the two church leaders on their way as they were proceeding privately “without any ceremonial or liturgical manifestations,” and forced them to turn back.
The statement noted that, for the first time in centuries, this action prevented church leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It described the incident as a “serious and dangerous precedent,” adding that it “disregards the sentiments of millions of believers around the world whose eyes turn to Jerusalem during this week.”
The statement emphasized that church leaders had acted with full responsibility, noting that since the beginning of the war they had complied with all imposed restrictions, including canceling public gatherings and limiting attendance, while relying instead on broadcast celebrations reaching hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide during the Easter season. It further stressed that preventing the patriarch and the custos of the Holy Land—who represent the highest ecclesiastical authorities responsible for the Catholic Church and the holy sites—from entering the church constitutes a measure that is “clearly unreasonable and disproportionate.”
The decision, the statement added, was “hasty and based on flawed grounds,” “tainted by inappropriate considerations,” and represents “a serious departure from the fundamental principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the status quo.” In conclusion, the two church leaders expressed their “deep regret” to Christians in the Holy Land and around the world after “prayer on one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar was prevented in this manner.”
Israeli authorities did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Celebrations under restrictions
On the security front, Jerusalem and the wider Holy Land continue to experience heightened tensions amid the ongoing regional conflict, which has directly affected daily life and the practice of religious rites. According to media reports, preparations for religious celebrations such as Easter and Holy Saturday have been accompanied by strict security measures, with some traditional events canceled due to security threats and reports of rockets landing near religious sites in the Holy City. Authorities have imposed limits on gatherings and restricted access to certain holy places.
Pizzaballa has repeatedly highlighted the deep suffering of Christians in the region amid the ongoing conflict, calling for prayer and support for Christian communities facing increasing challenges due to war and insecurity. In previous statements, he emphasized the importance of providing spiritual and moral support to Christians in the Holy Land, underscoring the need for them to remain in their homeland and affirming that the Church continues its mission and services despite ongoing risks.
Reports from religious and community sources have also pointed to a rise in attacks against Christians and Christian properties in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including acts of violence by settlers. These developments, according to various reports, reflect the deteriorating security conditions for Palestinian Christian communities amid ongoing settlement expansion, increasing the risk of displacement and further diminishing their historic presence in the Holy Land.
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Almost certainly done for security reasons.
Perhaps the good Bishop should have turned his previous attentions on converting the folks who follow the supposedly peaceful prophet to the true Prince of Peace. Maybe the area who be much more peaceful now if he had. Know Christ, know peace. No Christ, no peace.
Incidentally, how did Pizzaballa handle the Covid pandemic. Surely he cancelled public assistance at the Divine Sacrifice in favor of Zoom only attendance?
Yes thank you, it’s for safety reasons. There’s no point in further incentivizing the Iranian regime to destroy Jewish & Christian holy sites knowing that there are worshippers inside during Holy Week & Passover.
I’d say its for the Christian leaders to decide whether Christians should take the risk or not.
If the Iranian regime wants to take out the Western Wall or the Holy Sepulchre for Passover/ Holy Week let’s not make it more of a reward for them.
I would agree, but the problem is, it is the Israeli police force/military who will have to get the pilgrims out out. If the authorities refuse to do so, they will be condemned. And if the securities forces do, they also risk being harmed. That doesn’t seem right.
Bishop Pizzabella did not support closing Churches during Covid. Take some time and learn more about Bishop Pizzabella, he has had a remarkable journey, he’s earned respect. I will take seriously his words before those of Bibi Netanyahu.
The American bishops who are quick to condemn anyone like Carrie Prejean Boller who criticizes Israel seem mighty silent about the way Israel treats the Christians of the Holy Land and Lebanon. I wonder why this is. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is a brave, prudent man and deserves the support of his brother bishops, regardless of US politics and policy. I wonder about the silence of US bishops as Israeli setters drive out Christian farmers in Israel who have been there since long before the founding of the modern state of Israel. I wonder why they are mostly silent as Maronite Christians are driven from their homes in southern Lebanon by the tens of thousands. We have spiritual bonds to these people that ought be stronger than US ideological fights.
Bishop Strickland appeared on Tucker Carlson.
He’s a lot less sanguine than our resident IDF JV.
IDF JV, how childish.
Strong and insightful comments, Mark. The good Cardinal Pizzaballa is a level-headed man who bravely and accurately calls out the abuse of Christians by both Muslims and Jews, but even his balanced approach is considered by too many (especially the galactically obtuse “anti-zionism = antisemitism” yahoo crowd) to be out of line when his criticism falls on the immoral practices engaged in by the Israelis whose understanding and following of Just War Theory leaves much to be desired.
For example, not too long ago I saw a former prime minister of Israel repeat the claim that the Israeli military tries to warn in advance of bombing raids so people can evacuate, but when Iran uses civilians as “human shields,” that’s all that’s needed for the go-ahead with the bombing after the warning. Not one consideration of possible alternatives. It’s ‘we warned them, so now it’s their fault when bombs kill innocents.’ And it’s also considered justifiable collateral damage by the Israeli military when any other kind of damage occurs to innocents and property near a designated target. Once again it’s ‘we warned them, so bombs away. We are not interested in perhaps some lesser alternatives that might get the job done. That’s part of your Just War Theory; not ours.’
Alas, our country also does not follow Just War Theory in our partnership with Israel in the ever-expanding conflict in the Middle East.
We agree on many points.
I notice you do not name the “alternatives.”
Ignorant slanders from Carrie Prejean Boller do not constitute “criticism.”
And label me all you want, but promoting the obtuse notion that “zionism” actually exists is blatant antisemitism.
Your comments take courage, you are not alone in your thoughts. There are those among our Church who see Lindsay Graham as someone to be emulated by Catholics and the Scofield Bible as accurate. Even Mike Huckabee criticized the decision to block the Church.
The holiest site for Jews, the Western Wall, is currently closed also. And for the same safety reasons.
Already, you have four comments on here and all with the expected content.
It might upset PB, that’s the count.
Good news, due to world-wide pressure/condemnation, the Israelis have backed down somewhat.
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-891522
It was a police decision & overreach from what I’ve read. Not “the Israelis” . Every sort of holy site for each religion has been closed or has had severely limited access for safety concerns.
A number of folks are quick to criticize the Jews when they “Discrimination!!” but then turn around and pull the same stunt.
The Israeli police is an organ of the Israeli Government which is the governing part of the State of Israel which is composed of Israeli citizens.
So, yeah, the Israelis backed down.
Deal with it.
Police generally function under our local, civil governments, not as a private force. So of course they listen to civil authorities. As in Israel.
God bless law enforcement but sometimes they can overreach.
And again, they really backed down, due to external, mainly Christian, pressure.
I’m glad the Israelis were corrected and chastened.
Maybe they will learn something.
Catholic bishops in the USA shut down parishes for months ostensibly over Covid safety concerns. The leftists in the Church didn’t utter a word about it. I’m tired of Church hypocrisy.
Yes, and churches in places like Ireland were closed for a ridiculously long time. I heard the Irish were returning to covert Masses out in the countryside.