“It is a contempt for Christians”

The Israeli Police have prevented the head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The cardinal was on his way to celebrate Palm Sunday mass and “for the first time in centuries, he was prevented from celebrating it in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” according to the statement issued.

Thus, the police detained Pizzaballa together with the Custos of the Holy Land, Franceso Ielpo, when they were on their way to the Holy Sepulcher “privately and without any trace of a procession or ceremonial act.”

“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,” continues the statement released by the Latin Patriarchate.

The Patriarchate has described the decision as a “manifestly unreasonable and seriously disproportionate” measure, as well as “flawed by improper considerations” that deviates from the principles of freedom of religion.

Before this incident, the institution had taken the necessary measures in the face of current restrictions, such as canceling public meetings and preparing the resources to telematically broadcast the Holy Week celebrations.

“The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land express their deep regret to the Christian faithful of the Holy Land and throughout the world for the fact that prayer has been thus prevented on one of the most sacred days of the Christian calendar,” the statement concludes.

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