Israel Prevents Latin Patriarch from Celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in Jerusalem

Israeli police barred Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, triggering a diplomatic dispute between Italy and Israel. The ban prevented Pizzaballa and Father Francesco Ielpo from celebrating the Palm Sunday liturgy at one of Christianity's most sacred sites. Israeli authorities cited ongoing security restrictions in force since the outbreak of war with Iran on February 28, 2026. The incident drew swift condemnation from the Italian government and opposition alike, and prompted direct calls from both Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office to address the fallout.

Israeli police cite wartime security operation for the ban The Israeli police issued a statement explaining that all holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem had been closed to the faithful since the start of Operation Ruggito del Leone, in accordance with directives from the Home Front Command. The closure applied specifically to sites without protected areas, and the police stated that Pizzaballa's request had been examined the previous day and denied on those grounds. Israeli authorities said that since the war with Iran began, large gatherings had been restricted across the country — in mosques, synagogues, and churches alike — with attendance capped at around 50 people. The executive justified the measures by accusing Iranian forces of having repeatedly targeted the sacred places of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles, with fragments reportedly falling within meters of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre itself. Netanyahu's office posted on X that the police action carried "no malicious intent," describing it solely as concern for the Cardinal's safety and that of his entourage.

„Today, given the particular concerns for his safety, the police prevented the Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pizzaballa from celebrating Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We reiterate that there was no malicious intent, only concern for his safety and that of his entourage.” — Benjamin Netanyahu's office via ANSA

Netanyahu's office added that security forces were working on a plan to allow religious leaders to celebrate services at the holy site in the coming days. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also called Pizzaballa directly to express what he described as deep sorrow over the incident.

„I just called the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to express my deep sorrow for the unpleasant incident that occurred this morning. I made it clear that the incident was triggered by security concerns, due to the continuing threat of missile attacks by the Iranian terrorist regime against the civilian population in Israel.” — Isaac Herzog via ANSA

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City is considered by many Christians to be the site of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, making it among the most significant pilgrimage destinations in Christianity. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, whose seat Pizzaballa has held since 2020, is the Roman Catholic diocese responsible for pastoral care across Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Cyprus. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian liturgical calendar, the period leading to Easter. The Old City of Jerusalem holds sites sacred to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, and its religious status has historically been governed by arrangements known as the status quo, which regulate access and authority at shared holy places.

Rome summons ambassador as Meloni calls the Cardinal directly The Italian government responded with visible urgency. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, summoned Israeli Ambassador Jonathan Peled to the Italian foreign ministry to register Rome's objections. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Cardinal Pizzaballa personally to express what Palazzo Chigi sources described as her personal support and that of the Italian government. Ambassador Peled, while acknowledging he would have preferred a "different response" from Italy, said dialogue between the two countries would remain "open and sincere, sometimes perhaps a little conflictual but certainly one of dialogue," characterizing the relationship as one between friends who may hold differing views. The Italian government has previously clashed with Israeli authorities over attacks on UNIFIL bases in Lebanon, settler violence in the West Bank, and what Rome has described as insufficient attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. According to ANSA reporting, Netanyahu was keen not to allow the incident to escalate into a broader rupture with Rome, given Italy's general support for Israel's security position in the war against Iran.

Opposition leader Schlein calls it an act of "Netanyahu's supremacism" The incident drew sharp condemnation from across the Italian political spectrum, with the sharpest language coming from the opposition. Elly Schlein, secretary of the Democratic Party, expressed solidarity with Pizzaballa, Father Ielpo, and all the faithful who were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass. Schlein described the ban as "yet another violation of the most elementary human rights" carried out with what she called "substantial impunity," and characterized it as an act of hostility toward millions of Christians worldwide. She called on the Italian government to "strongly express its condemnation" and to distance itself from what she termed the "criminal Netanyahu government." At the local level, Vittoria Ferdinandi, mayor of Perugia, called the ban "a serious and unacceptable fact" that affected freedom of worship and respect for holy places, while Stefania Proietti, president of the Umbria region, described it as a matter of "unheard-of gravity" and called for the immediate restoration of religious freedom. Proietti also appealed for weapons to be silenced "as soon as possible," expressing solidarity with the Christian community in the Holy Land.

„Striking freedom of worship is yet another violation of the most elementary human rights carried out with substantial impunity, and represents an act of hostility toward millions of Christians in the world.” — Elly Schlein via ANSA