Posted on 03/29/2026 12:42:33 PM PDT by ebb tide
The news is astounding, and an insult to Catholics worldwide: for the first time in living memory, the Latin Patriarch was prevented from entering the Holy Sepulchre.
This morning, the Israeli Police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, together with the Custos of the Holy Land, the Most Reverend Fr. Francesco Ielpo, OFM, the official Guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, as they made their way to celebrate the Palm Sunday Mass.
The full press release of the unbelievable incident is from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem itself, in a joint statement with the Custody of the Holy Land:
Joint Press Release
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land
Holy City of Jerusalem
Palm Sunday, 29 March 2026
This morning, the Israeli Police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, together with the Custos of the Holy Land, the Most Reverend Fr. Francesco Ielpo, OFM, the official Guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, as they made their way to celebrate the Palm Sunday 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. As a result, and for the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
This incident is a grave precedent,and disregard the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem.
The Heads of the Churches have acted with full responsibility and, since the outset of the war, have complied with all imposed restrictions: public gatherings were cancelled, attendance was prohibited, and arrangements were made to broadcast the celebrations to hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide, who, during these days of Easter, turn their eyes to Jerusalem and to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Preventing the entry of the Cardinal and the Custos, who bear the highest ecclesiastical responsibility for the Catholic Church and the Holy Places, constitutes a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure.
This hasty and fundamentally flawed decision, tainted by improper considerations, represents an extreme departure from basic principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the Status Quo.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land express their profound sorrow to the Christian faithful in the Holy Land and throughout the world that prayer on one of the most sacred days of the Christian calendar has thus been prevented.
[Source]
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Ping
Earlier thread indicated it’s a safety precaution. Seems to be a bit of a dust-up with a place called Iran?
I guess the Jews don’t like the Catholics much.
For the faithful, this Palm Sunday became a call to prayer amid trial rather than public procession—a painful but understandable concession in a city under missile fire. Claims of targeted “stopping” of Christian worship often serve propaganda more than accurate reporting.
If this Patriarch was killed, everyone would blame Israel for it. But if they keep him safe, they also get blamed. Meanwhile, the Patriarch quietly moved his service to the Mount of Olives.
Why did the Israelis do that?
Sounds like Israel needs to be on their own in Iran.
They don’t like anyone. THEY are the most bigoted race on the planet. Make a list of who they do like, and it will only include those who give them money, and support them totally.
Say you disagree with one thing they do, and YOU are an anti-semite.
Montag, don’t let fact get in the way of an ebby/rotate old fashioned rant. According to them, it is the end of the world as we know it.
Facts, ebby, facts! Repeat again and again.
Never trust rotate (or fired strickland, or excommunicated vig, or off the rocker A. schneider, or other members of the cartoon network.) NEVER.
No, they would have blamed Iran for it.
Let the Catholics practice their faith, whatever the risks.
They've been doing it for centuries.
Isn't this common sense? No, because Pizzabella hates Israel and Jews and will use any excuse to criticize them, even when they close a church for safety reasons.
I totally agree. Alone on the world stage sounds best to me. The only nation who doesn’t adhere to the Nuclear treaty, but they insist other nations do.
In fact they stole our materials and information to build their own nuclear program and haven’t quit backstabbing their “besties” since.
I actually just found out that shrapnel HIT the church, just a few days ago. I don't know why I didn't hear about this when it happened.
Btw, risk to life does not take a back seat to practice of faith in a particular place. One can pray anywhere. God does not want you to die for it needlessly. As it turned out the Patriarch carried out his service - but on the Mount of Olives instead. So what's the problem?
Do you all even know what the Holy Sepulchre is?
Of course., I have been there...twice. First as a student, staying at a dirt cheap hostel nearby.
Catholics have always taken the risks of their churches being bombed by whomever.
Hmm. And you know this how? Who were the brains behind the Manhattan Project, the nuclear navy, the Strategic Defense Initiative?
Who?
What do you expect, they crucified him!
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