This morning, Israeli police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa , Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Monsignor Francesco Ielpo, official Custodian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, while they were on their way to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. The two were stopped along the way , while traveling privately and without any procession or ceremony, and were forced to turn back.
With a note, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has given the green light to a storm that will continue throughout the day between Rome and Jerusalem, passing through Paris.
"This incident," the Patriarchate continues, "constitutes a grave precedent and ignores the sensitivities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem." "The Heads of the Churches have acted with full responsibility," it continues, "and, since the beginning of the war, have complied with all the restrictions imposed : public gatherings have been cancelled, participation has been prohibited, and arrangements have been made to broadcast the celebrations to hundreds of millions of faithful around the world, who, in these days of Easter, turn their gaze to Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre." "Preventing entry to the Cardinal and the Custos, who hold the highest ecclesiastical responsibility for the Catholic Church and the Holy Places," it continues, "constitutes a manifestly unreasonable and disproportionate measure . This hasty and fundamentally flawed decision, tainted by improper considerations, represents an extreme violation of the fundamental 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 deep sorrow to the Christian faithful in the Holy Land and throughout the world that prayer on one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar has been thus impeded," the statement concluded.
