Israeli authorities restrict access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday

On March 29, 2026, Israeli police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ielpo, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. The Latin Patriarchate stated this was the first time in centuries that church leaders were blocked from this site during the holiday. Police explained the restriction as a security measure, noting that all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City have been closed to the public since late February 2026 due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the lack of bomb shelters. While the Church condemned the act as a serious precedent that disregards global religious sensitivities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intervened on March 30, ordering that the Patriarch be granted immediate access. By Monday, a new agreement was reached to allow limited groups of worshipers into the church. Several international leaders, including those from France, Italy, and Spain, criticized the initial police action as an affront to religious freedom.