The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced on March 30 that an agreement has been reached with Israeli authorities to allow Holy Week and Easter celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, following a previous ban on Palm Sunday ceremonies.
The announcement comes after global criticism erupted when Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Father Francesco Ielpo were prevented by Israeli police from entering the church on March 29. The incident drew swift condemnation from religious and political leaders worldwide, who said it threatened freedom of worship in Jerusalem.
In its statement, the Latin patriarchate said that “access for representatives of the Churches has been secured in order to conduct the liturgies and ceremonies and to preserve the ancient Easter traditions at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.” However, it noted that restrictions on public gatherings remain due to ongoing security concerns. “Accordingly, the Churches will ensure that the liturgies and prayers are broadcast live to the faithful in the Holy Land and throughout the world,” it added.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Cardinal Pizzaballa after news of their barring spread internationally. Herzog said he expressed his “great sorrow over this morning’s unfortunate incident” and clarified that security concerns related to recent missile attacks from Iran led to heightened restrictions. He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment “to freedom of religion for all faiths and to upholding the status quo at the holy sites of Jerusalem.” The patriarchate thanked Herzog for his intervention as well as other heads of state who supported them during this period.
Political figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Polish President Karol Nawrocki, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban publicly criticized Israel’s actions or called for respect for religious freedoms in Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later stated he had instructed authorities to grant Cardinal Pizzaballa full access for services at the church. In response, Huckabee welcomed Netanyahu’s prompt intervention while noting safety concerns remain due to missile threats.
Cardinal Pizzaballa described his barring as a “misunderstanding” in an interview with TV2000. He emphasized there were no confrontations during entry denial: “There were no clashes; everything was done very politely… we want to use this situation to better clarify in coming days what to do.” He also highlighted broader hardships faced by others unable to celebrate due to different reasons: “Once again, we are celebrating a subdued Easter.”
The resolution allows Christian leaders limited access under continued security measures while ensuring ceremonies can be broadcast globally.
