The Israeli police prevented the Palm Sunday procession in Jerusalem by preventing the passage to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher that would be carried out by Cardinal Perbattista Pizzaballa.
“For the first time in centuries, the heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” reported the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem.
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This situation occurs in the midst of the war between Israel and the United States with Iran, due to which the Israeli authorities keep the holy places of the Old City of Jerusalem, the Al Aqsa Mosque complex, the Western Wall and the Holy Sepulcher closed.
According to the statement, the agents detained Pizzaballa together with the Custos of the Holy Land, Francesco Lelo.
“This incident constitutes a serious precedent and represents a disregard for the sensitivity of billions of people around the world who, during this week, have their eyes set on Jerusalem,” the statement continued.
The traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives was also suspended, given Israel’s limitation of gatherings in the country to less than 50 people.
Other prohibitions by the Israeli authorities
However, this was not the only time that the Israeli authorities prevented religious processions. Also during Ramadan, the holy month of Islam, the Israeli police prevented the faithful from accessing the Mosque Esplanade, limited entry to the Old City and violently dispersed believers who tried to pray outside its walls.
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The Lenten pilgrimage to the Holy Places, a common practice in the run-up to Easter, was also prevented.
Due to this, the Custody of the Holy Land reported that liturgical celebrations continue to take place internally in sites such as the Holy Sepulchre, although without access for the faithful for security reasons.
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