Israeli police stop Latin Patriarch from entering Church of Holy Sepulchre

Key Points:

• On Palm Sunday morning, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Fr. Francesco Ielpo, Custos of the Holy Land, were blocked by Israeli police from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Mass.
• The church leaders were stopped while proceeding privately without any procession or ceremonial act, marking the first time in centuries that the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at this site.
• The joint statement from the Latin Patriarchate and Custody described the incident as a "grave precedent" and a disregard for the sensibilities of billions of Christians worldwide during Holy Week.
• Both church authorities complied with all restrictions related to public gatherings due to the ongoing war, arranging for celebrations to be broadcast globally, making the police action appear "grossly disproportionate" and unreasonable.
• The decision was criticized as a departure from principles of freedom of worship and respect for the Status Quo, with the Patriarch and Custos expressing profound sorrow to the Christian faithful for being prevented from prayer on such a sacred day.