Source of breaking news and analysis, insightful commentary and original reporting, curated and written specifically for the new generation of independent and conservative thinkers.
Israeli police officers sparked a diplomatic and religious row on Sunday after they stopped two top clergymen from going to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to celebrate the Palm Sunday Mass.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who serves as the Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, and Custos of the Holy Land Father Francesco Ielpo, were “compelled” by Israeli police to turn back from their procession towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest site in Christianity. The two Catholic clergymen were on their way towards the site of the crucifixion and resurrection in Jerusalem’s Old City to mark the mass of Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week, when they were turned back,“As a result, and 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 Franciscan Custody said. “This incident is a grave precedent, and disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem.” They claimed to have been stopped despite having proceeded “privately and without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act,” so as to comply with security restrictions amid the war with Iran. “The Heads of the Churches have acted with full responsibility and, since the outset of the war, have complied with all imposed restrictions: public gatherings were cancelled, attendance was prohibited, and arrangements were made to broadcast the celebrations to hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide, who, during these days of Easter, turn their eyes to Jerusalem and to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” the Church bodies added. They said that preventing the Cardinal and the Custos from celebrating the mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday represented a “manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure.” “This hasty and fundamentally flawed decision, tainted by improper considerations, represents an extreme departure from basic principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the Status Quo,” they said., Rome was also quick to condemn the actions of the Israeli police, and with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani summoning the Jewish state’s ambassador on Monday while describing the incident as “unacceptable”.: “The Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a sacred place of Christianity… Preventing entry to the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land, moreover, on a central solemnity for the faith, such as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offence not only for believers, but for every community that recognises religious freedom.”: “I condemn this decision issued by the Israeli police, which comes in the context of the alarming increase in violations targeting the status quo of the holy places in Jerusalem.that the actions by the Israeli police represented an “unfortunate overreach already having major repercussions around the world.” Ambassador Huckabee noted that the representatives of the Catholic Church were well below the limit against gatherings of 50 or more people, saying that “for the Patriarch to be barred from entry to the Church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony is difficult to understand or justify. Israel has indicated it will work with the Patriarch to accommodate a safe means of carrying out Holy Week activities.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that police officials will meet with Cardinal Pizzaballa to find a solution to the situation while ensuring safety.The Foreign Ministry noted that the Iranian regime has fired missiles into the Old City on multiple occasions over the past month and therefore the government has banned mass gatherings in the area, particularly in light of the “area’s density and the difficulty of deploying first responders in such an incident”, which the ministry said could result in a “mass casualty event.”Booker: Iran Conflict Is the Greatest 'Presidential Blunders of Our Time''I’ll F***ing Kill You': 'No Kings' Protesters Push, Threaten Breitbart RepImmigrant Rep. Pramila Jayapal Urges 'Reparations' for Illegal MigrantsJimmy Kimmel Mocked After Bringing His Family to ‘No Kings’ Rally: ‘Deport Jimmy Kimmel’Exclusive: Teacher Sexual Misconduct Is ‘Rampant’ in U.S. Schools, Leading Experts FindNorth Carolina: Youth Group Hosted ‘Abortion Doula’ Trainings for 14-Year-Olds
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israeli police bar Latin Patriarch from Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre church on Palm SundayPatriarchate calls incident 'grave precedent' that disregards sensitivities of billions of Christians worldwide.
Read more »
Israeli police block Catholic figures from Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem's Holy SepulchreFreddie Clayton is a freelance journalist based in London.
Read more »
Latin patriarch of Jerusalem says Israeli police blocked him from Palm Sunday serviceIsrael fielded incoming strikes from Iran on Sunday, and Iran-backed Houthis, who govern Yemen, targeted Israeli military sites on Saturday.
Read more »
Israeli police prevent Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem church over safety concernsThe Latin Patriarchate says Israeli police have blocked top Catholic leaders from entering Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday Mass. Israel's police says safety and emergency access concerns drive the decision and that the church doesn't have sufficient shelter spaces in case of an Iranian missile.
Read more »
Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem churchThe Latin Patriarchate says Israeli police have blocked top Catholic leaders from entering Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday Mass.
Read more »
Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem churchThe Latin Patriarchate says Israeli police have blocked top Catholic leaders from entering Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday Mass.
Read more »