Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem will now have full and immediate access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This comes after police had initially prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the site, citing safety concerns amidst ongoing tensions with Iran.
Netanyahu explained that the restrictions were put in place as a precaution, as recent missile threats against Jerusalem's holy sites had raised alarm. The decision to deny access was met with widespread criticism from various nations and religious groups.
On Palm Sunday, Cardinal Pizzaballa and another religious leader were blocked from entering the church, marking a significant and unprecedented moment where a Latin Patriarch was turned away during such a critical time in the Christian calendar. Cardinal Pizzaballa's office labeled this incident a grave precedent.
However, in a late-night announcement, Netanyahu confirmed he had intervened to allow the Cardinal access. The cardinal expressed his thanks for the decision and reiterated the need for continued arrangements to ensure worship in holy sites amidst ongoing security challenges.
International voices, including US officials and European leaders, had also pressed Israel for the necessity of ensuring religious freedoms in the context of escalating regional tensions, highlighting the global implications of access to religious sites.
