March 29, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel
Israeli police have reportedly prevented top Catholic leaders from accessing the historic Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, sparking global concern over religious freedom.
According to a joint statement, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Francesco Ielpo, were stopped by Israeli authorities while on their way to celebrate Mass.
The leaders were said to be travelling privately—without any procession or ceremony—when they were turned back by police, preventing them from officiating the Palm Sunday service at one of Christianity’s holiest sites in Jerusalem.
Church authorities described the incident as a “grave precedent”, noting that it marks the first time in centuries that senior clerics were unable to conduct Palm Sunday Mass at the sacred location.
In the statement, the Church criticized the action as “unreasonable and disproportionate,” arguing that it violates principles of freedom of worship and longstanding religious arrangements governing the site.
The development comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with restrictions already affecting religious gatherings. Church officials emphasized that they had complied with all regulations, including cancelling public attendance and moving services online for millions of faithful worldwide.
They expressed deep disappointment, stating that believers across the globe were denied the opportunity to spiritually connect with Jerusalem during one of the most sacred periods in the Christian calendar.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor reactions and developments surrounding this incident.
