Following a diplomatic firestorm, including a sharp rebuke from Greece, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered ‘full and immediate access’ to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The move aims to defuse tensions after Israeli police sparked international outcry by barring the Patriarch from presiding over Palm Sunday services.
The reversal comes after Israeli police blocked Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering the site to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, marking what church authorities described as the first such exclusion in centuries.
Greece rebukes Israel for barring access to the Holy Sepulchre
The initial prohibition sparked a swift and sharp rebuke from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which expressed “deep concern” over the incident. Athens emphasized that the historical Status Quo of the Holy Sepulchre—the delicate set of rules governing Jerusalem’s holy sites—must be respected by all parties “in good faith.”
Greece, as a traditional protector of Orthodox interests in the region, reiterated its “unwavering support” for all Christian Churches in Jerusalem, insisting that freedom of worship must be guaranteed under any circumstances. The Greek statement further underscored that upholding these traditions is of “added importance” as the Christian world enters the high-stakes period of Holy Week and Easter.
Israel’s U-turn
Prime Minister Netanyahu defended the police action as a temporary safety measure, citing the ongoing conflict with Iran. He stated the Cardinal was asked to turn back due to concerns that Jerusalem’s holy sites have been “repeatedly targeted” by ballistic missiles.
“There was no malicious intent whatsoever, only concern for his safety,” Netanyahu said in a statement on Monday.
However, the Latin Patriarchate described the move as a “grave precedent” that ignored the sensibilities of billions of faithful. The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, joined a chorus of Western critics, calling the restriction an “unfortunate overreach” that was “difficult to understand or justify.”
Related: New Findings on the Origins of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre