Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “relevant authorities” early Monday to allow the Latin Patriarch access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, reversing a historic ban that sparked a swift and severe international diplomatic crisis during the holiest week of the Christian calendar.
The reversal follows a Sunday incident in which Israeli police barred Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and other senior church leaders from entering the site to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem described the exclusion as a “grave precedent,” noting it was the first time in centuries that the heads of the Church were prevented from performing the liturgy at the site believed to be the location of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
The move to block the clergy triggered immediate backlash from Western allies and religious leaders. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni characterized the restriction as an “insult” to religious freedom, while Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed he would summon the Israeli ambassador in Rome to protest the “unacceptable” ban.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, typically a staunch defender of the Netanyahu administration, issued a rare public rebuke on X, calling the incident an “unfortunate overreach” with global repercussions.
In the Vatican, Pope Leo condemned the violence of the current conflict during his Palm Sunday address, stating that God rejects the prayers of leaders with “hands full of blood” and noting that Middle Eastern Christians are being prevented from observing sacred traditions.
The Prime Minister’s Office defended the initial restrictions, citing “public safety and security” amid the ongoing war with Iran. Netanyahu claimed that Iranian ballistic missiles have repeatedly targeted Jerusalem’s holy sites in recent days, with one strike reportedly landing meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Israeli police officials stated the Old City remains a “complex area” lacking standard protected spaces for large crowds. However, the Patriarchate dismissed these justifications as “fundamentally flawed,” arguing that the Cardinal and his deputies were proceeding privately and did not constitute a mass gathering or a security risk.
The religious standoff occurs against a backdrop of unprecedented closures in East Jerusalem. Since the conflict escalated in late February, access to major religious sites has been strictly curtailed:
- Al-Aqsa Mosque: Muslim worshippers have been completely barred throughout Ramadan.
- Western Wall: Jewish prayer has been restricted to a maximum of 50 people per day.
While Netanyahu has now signaled a plan to enable church leaders to worship in the coming days, the initial ban has already strained relations with the Holy See and European partners at a critical juncture in the regional conflict.
