Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 03/29/2026 9:12:13 AM PDT by hcmama
Pizzaballa had attempted to travel to the church within Jerusalem’s Old City with the Rev. Francesco Ielpo, the church’s official guardian, to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
It said the two were stopped en route and compelled to turn back, marking “the first time in centuries” that Palm Sunday Mass could not be celebrated at the church, which is the holiest site in Christianity, built where many believe Jesus was crucified.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that police had intervened to block Pizzaballa "out of special concern for his safety," claiming that "there was no malicious intent whatsoever."The formal Palm Sunday procession, which usually draws thousands of Christians, was canceled last week in line with a ban on large gatherings imposed by Israel, with the Latin Patriarchate citing “restrictions imposed by the conflict.”
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said the two men were “proceeding privately and without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act.”
It said the incident sets “a grave precedent” and disregards “the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
|
|
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
"While all Holy sites in the Old City are closed due to safety concerns for mass gatherings including the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Al Aqsa Mosque, the action today by the Israel Nat'l Police to deny Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and 3 other priests from entering the Church to offer a blessing on Palm Sunday is an unfortunate overreach already having major repercussions around the world. Home Front Command Guidelines restrict any gatherings to 50 people or less. The 4 representatives of the Catholic Church were well below that restriction. Statements from the Gov't of Israel indicate the action to prohibit Cardinal Pizzaballa entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher were for safety reasons, but churches, synagogues, and mosques throughout Jerusalem have met with the restrictions of 50 or less. For the Patriarch to be barred from entry to the Church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony is difficult to understand or justify. Israel has indicated it will work with the Patriarch to accommodate a safe means of carrying out Holy Week activities.
Dude’s name wasn’t Pizzaballa. Sounds like a Borat setup.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: “Preventing the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land from entering, especially on a solemnity as central to the faith as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offense not only to believers, but to every community that recognizes religious freedom”
The Pizzaballa dude is a real person. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierbattista_Pizzaballa
As much as it sounds like the punchline from an old-time joke about Italians, Pizzaballa is his actual name.
There’s a porn star called ‘Pornabella’... Don’t ask me how I know.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was hit by a large fragment of an Iranian Missile. It caused some roof damage, but Thank God, nobody was hurt.
It really is a safety issue.
I’ve been to that venerable, ancient, church, and it’s quite impressive.
The most salient fact about it is that the Tomb is EMPTY.
PS. The Western Wall and Al Aqsa are also closed to the public because of the same safety concerns.
get a load of THAT misleading headline!
wow!
1. everyone was asked to stay away
2. because of Fakestinian threats
3. because of Iranian bombing Jerusalem including immediately neighborhood of the Jewish Temple Mount and the Church of the HOly Sepulcher
4. for public safety!
5. but this one cleric goes to the police line and makes out that it is just his royal ass that is being kept away
6. now then, why in H3ll would he even think of doing such a thing?
7. answer: notwithstanding his clerical garb, he is an enemy agent seeking to propagandize for the terrorist attackers
8. he’s not the first, nor regretfully is it likely he’ll be the last... but as much as we’d like to believe that a “man of the cloth” is honest... this one’s not.
The Priests answer to God, not the government.
“The Tomb Is Empty!”
.
So Many Fabulous places in Jerusalem!
.
Just Picturing ‘The Prince of Peace’
strolling thru the narrow Streets!
.
I attended a Sunday Service at The
Garden Tomb.
Every square inch is Inspiring
While walking those Streets.
Of course they had to close it, would it have been better had it been left open and a missile drops and kills 50 people
There were four people total going to the Church.
I wouldnt feel safe with missiles flying around, even for four people
Pizzaballa? Really? Sounds like a fathers guido sarducci skit.
Are they going to evacuate the whole city of Jerusalem?
“Home Front Command Guidelines restrict any gatherings to 50 people or less. The 4 representatives of the Catholic Church were well below that restriction. Statements from the Gov’t of Israel indicate the action to prohibit Cardinal Pizzaballa entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher were for safety reasons, but churches, synagogues, and mosques throughout Jerusalem have met with the restrictions of 50 or less. “
Synagogues can have 50, but a church can’t have 4.
Looks like we are back to the days of unequal enforcement of covid restrictions.
;)
turns out the Cardinal understands safety concerns and precautions of Israelis.after all we all saw 2 instances of damage to Temple Mt/roof of Ch of Holy Sepulchre, and area is of limits to all -Jews Christians and Muslims. Pizzaballa says it was a misunderstaning -he just wanted a symbolic “service”with a few to mark Palm Sunday, not a big service. sounds like there was a “failure to communicate.” so all those hoping for an international incident, nope!
I wouldn’t dream of it. TMI.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.