En Israël, des responsables catholiques bloqués au Saint-Sépulcre

Israeli police blocked Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Father Francesco Ielpo, the Gardien de la Terre sainte, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, preventing what the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem described as the first such ban on Catholic clergy at the site in centuries. Israeli police notified church authorities on Saturday that no Mass could be held, citing security concerns related to the ongoing war with Iran, the lack of access for emergency vehicles in the narrow alleys of Jerusalem's Old City, and the absence of adequate shelter. The Patriarchate stressed that the planned celebration was entirely private, involving only a small number of clergy and no public congregation. Cardinal Pizzaballa instead celebrated Mass at a basilica at the foot of the Mount of Olives. The incident drew immediate and sharp international condemnation, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reversed the decision the same evening, announcing on X that he had instructed authorities to grant the Patriarch full and immediate access to the church.

Netanyahu évoque des fragments de missile près de l’église Israeli authorities defended the initial ban by pointing to the security situation in Jerusalem since the war with Iran began on February 28, 2026. Netanyahu stated on X that Iran had repeatedly targeted holy sites of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles, and that in one attack missile fragments had fallen a few meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Since the war began, Israeli authorities have banned large gatherings at religious sites, limiting attendance to approximately 50 people, and have closed the sacred sites of the Old City to all religious confessions. Police said restrictions at holy sites lacking standard protected spaces — such as the church, located deep in a maze of narrow alleys — were intended to safeguard worshippers from Iranian attacks. The Patriarcat latin de Jérusalem rejected this reasoning, noting that the church had been hosting non-public Masses since the war began and that it was not clear how a private celebration by a few clergy posed a different security risk. Spokesman Farid Jubran stated that the church had explicitly requested permission for only a small number of clergy to enter for a private ceremony, not a public event. „C’est une journée très, très sainte pour les chrétiens et, à notre avis, rien ne justifiait une telle décision ou une telle action” — Farid Jubran via AP News

L’Italie mène la condamnation, l’ambassadeur convoqué à Rome The incident triggered the sharpest diplomatic response from Italy, where Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani led the government's reaction. Meloni described the ban as an offense not only to the faithful but to every community that recognizes religious freedom, and personally telephoned Cardinal Pizzaballa to express her closeness and that of the Italian government. Tajani called the ban unacceptable and summoned the Israeli ambassador to Rome. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto described the episode as worrying and unprecedented. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the Israeli police decision, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also criticized the move, with Israel responding specifically to Spain's criticism by accusing Sánchez of supporting Iran rather than defending religious freedom, according to LaSexta. The Israeli ambassador to Rome, Jonathan Peled, acknowledged that Israel would have preferred a different response from Italy but described the relationship as one of open and sincere dialogue between friends who may have differences of view. Pope Leo XIV, during his Angélus in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, expressed closeness to Christians in the Middle East who suffer the consequences of a terrible conflict and, in many cases, cannot fully observe the rites of the holy days.

Un cadre de prière limité approuvé lundi matin Late on Sunday evening, Netanyahu posted on X that he had personally instructed the competent authorities to grant Cardinal Pizzaballa full and immediate access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, framing his reversal as a response to learning of what had happened. „J’ai donné instruction aux autorités compétentes afin que le cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarche latin, se voie accorder un accès plein et immédiat à l’église du Saint-Sépulcre à Jérusalem” — Benjamin Netanyahu via ANSA.it By early Monday morning, Israeli police announced a limited prayer framework for the shrine, developed in consultation with the Latin Patriarchate, which the police said would seek to allow freedom of worship while maintaining security measures. Cardinal Pizzaballa himself described the original ban as the result of a misunderstanding, saying the Patriarchate had not requested anything public, only a short and small private ceremony to preserve the idea of the celebration at the Holy Sepulchre. The episode unfolded during Holy Week, the most significant period in the Christian liturgical calendar, when Palm Sunday marks the beginning of observances that culminate with Easter. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried, is considered the holiest site in Christianity.

L’église du Saint-Sépulcre est depuis des siècles un lieu central du pèlerinage et de la pratique religieuse chrétienne. La procession traditionnelle du dimanche des Rameaux à Jérusalem attire normalement des dizaines de milliers de chrétiens venus du monde entier, qui descendent du mont des Oliviers puis traversent les rues de la vieille ville jusqu’à l’église. Le statu quo qui régit l’accès aux lieux saints de Jérusalem est un arrangement de longue date qui encadre les droits des différentes communautés religieuses dans des espaces sacrés partagés et toute violation perçue de cet équilibre a un poids diplomatique et religieux important. La guerre entre Israël et l’Iran, commencée le 28 février 2026, a conduit les autorités israéliennes à imposer de larges restrictions aux rassemblements dans les lieux de culte à Jérusalem, touchant à la fois les communautés musulmane, juive et chrétienne.