Israeli police blocked the head of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem and the Custodian of the Holy Land from entering Christianity's holiest site to celebrate Palm Sunday, according to media reports.
Church authorities said the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Fr. Francesco Ielpo, the official Guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, were prevented from entering the shrine as they made their way to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass.
"For the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre," the statement said.
It described the incident as "a grave precedent" and disregarding "the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem."
President Karol Nawrocki said in a post on X that he opposed the decision and voiced support for Christians in the Holy Land.
"I strongly object to the refusal to allow the celebration of Holy Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem," Nawrocki said. "I extend my words of support to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and to all Christians living in the Holy Land."
He said Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, when Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"The actions of the Israeli police, which I condemn, are an expression of disrespect for Christian tradition and culture," he added.
Polish Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, the archbishop of Kraków and head of the the Polish Bishops' Conference's Council for Interreligious Dialogue, expressed solidarity with Pizzaballa and Ielpo.
"I fully support their position," Ryś said in a statement, adding that his stance was expressed "in the name of—not against—dialogue between Christians and Jews."
In recent days, Pizzaballa said some Holy Week events in Jerusalem had been cancelled because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives, which was replaced by a moment of prayer.
He added that the Chrism Mass, usually held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Holy Thursday, would take place if conditions allow, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Israeli police said all holy sites in the Old City had been closed to worshippers for security reasons since the US-Israeli war against Iran began on February 28, according to British public broadcaster BBC.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement shared on X that Sunday's decision involved "no malicious intent whatsoever."
He added that "Israel has temporarily asked worshippers from all faiths not to worship at the holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City to protect them" from Iranian missile strikes.
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Source: IAR, PAP