For the first time in centuries, on March 29, Catholics in Jerusalem were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Israeli Police prevented Pierbattista Pizzaballa, head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, and Francesco Ielpo, the official guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the church as they made their way to celebrate mass.
“The two were stopped en route, while proceeding privately and without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act, and were compelled to turn back,” said a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody Of the Holy Land.
The statement described the incident as “a grave precedent,” one that disregards “the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem.”
