Overview
- Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Father Francesco Ielpo were stopped on their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday, in what the Latin Patriarchate called the first such barring in centuries.
- Israeli police said all Old City holy sites are closed under Home Front Command rules because recent Iranian missile strikes raised risks, noting the church lacks protected space and narrow alleys hinder emergency access.
- The Latin Patriarchate said it had complied with limits on gatherings and had sought a private, closed-door Mass, calling the police action disproportionate and a breach of the Status Quo that governs access to holy places.
- Italy condemned the move and summoned Israel’s ambassador, France’s president denounced it, Jordan protested a legal violation, and the U.S. ambassador in Israel called the denial of entry an overreach.
- Following the outcry, Israel said security agencies will work on a plan to let church leaders worship at the site in coming days, as broader wartime curbs have already pared back Holy Week rites, Ramadan prayers and upcoming Passover visits.