Catholic leaders denied entry to Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday, Israeli police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. According to the Latin Patriarchate, the leaders were walking privately without a procession when they were blocked by security forces. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, along with the Western Wall and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, has been closed to the general public since late February 2026 due to the ongoing war and concerns over potential missile attacks. The Patriarchate stated that this is the first time in centuries that church leaders have been unable to hold Palm Sunday services at the site. The religious authorities emphasized that they have complied with all wartime restrictions, including the cancellation of public gatherings. They characterized the denial of entry as a disproportionate measure that ignores the global significance of the site for billions of Christians. The incident has been described as a major precedent by church officials.