Catholic cardinal barred from entering Jerusalem's Church of Holy Sepulchre
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said it was "the first time in centuries" that heads of the church were unable to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass at the sacred site.
Updated on: March 29, 2026 / 6:11 PM EDT / CBS/AFP
Italian Catholic priest Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa will be allowed to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after Israeli authorities earlier in the day prevented him from entering the church to celebrate a Palm Sunday Mass over what Israel said were concerns for his safety amid the ongoing war with Iran .
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement that Pizzaballa and Reverend Fr. Francesco Ielpo were prevented from entering the church "as they made their way to celebrate" the Mass.
"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," the statement said. "This incident is a grave precedent and disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world, who during this week, look to Jerusalem."
Later Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media that he told the relevant authorities that Pizzaballa "be granted full and immediate access" to the church.
Netanyahu said Iran has "repeatedly targeted" religious sites in Jerusalem, citing one incident in which "missile fragments crashed meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre."