A worshipper stands at the doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after finding them locked, following the cancellation of the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives, amid restrictions on gathering in large groups and the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Jerusalem's Old City.Ammar Awad/Reuters
Israel has reversed course and will allow the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to access the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after police had barred him from entering the site on Palm Sunday, sparking criticism from Western leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media he had instructed officials that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa be granted “full and immediate access” to the fourth-century church.
Located in the Old City of Jerusalem, it is extremely important to Christians because it is believed to sit on the site of Jesus’s crucifixion and tomb.
Mr. Netanyahu wrote on X that Cardinal Pizzaballa was asked not to hold mass at the church “out of special concern for his safety,” as the Old City has been affected by missile strikes from Iran.
“To protect worshippers, Israel asked members of all faiths to temporarily abstain from worshipping at the Christian, Muslim and Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City,” he wrote Sunday.
“Even though I understand this concern, as soon as I learned about the incident with Cardinal Pizzaballa, I instructed the authorities to enable the Patriarch to hold services as he wishes.”
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Before the reversal on Sunday, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said Israeli police had prevented Cardinal Pizzaballa and Reverend Francesco Ielpo from entering the church to celebrate the Palm Sunday mass − the first time in centuries that a head of the church was prevented from doing so.
Mr. Carney joined a chorus of world leaders Sunday who criticized the decision.
“These actions further violate the longstanding status quo of Jerusalem’s Holy Sites. People of every faith in Jerusalem should be able to worship freely, fully, and without fear. I am pleased that President Herzog has contacted the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to reaffirm this,” Mr. Carney said in a statement, referring to Israel’s head of state.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he condemned the decision of the Israeli police, “which joins a disturbing sequence of violations of the status quo of the holy places in Jerusalem. Freedom of worship in Jerusalem must be ensured for all religions.”
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued a statement Monday saying that the matters concerning Holy Week and Easter celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre had been resolved. It said that in an agreement with the Israeli police, access for representatives of the churches had been secured in order to conduct the liturgies and ceremonies and preserve the ancient Easter traditions.
“We wish to emphasize that religious faith constitutes a supreme human value, shared by all religions, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze, and others. Especially in times of hardship and conflict, such as those presently endured, safeguarding the freedom of worship remains a fundamental and shared duty,” the statement said.
“The Church remains in continuous dialogue with the authorities, including the Israel Police. We pray and hope for an end to the tragic war affecting the region, mindful of the heavy consequences it has on all.”