Pizzaballa and the stop at the Holy Sepulchre, Israel ok with only symbolic Easter ceremonies: the case, what happens

The Israeli police in a post on Due to the complex security reality of Operation ‘Roaring Lion’, they are therefore ceremonies authorized only in “symbolic and limited form”, including that of the “Holy Fire”. “This coordination ensures that freedom of worship is maintained alongside our common and primary duty: the protection of human life”, states the Israeli police, recalling that “in recent weeks, Iranian missiles and debris have hit the Old City. These life-saving restrictions are a direct response to a real and present danger for all believers”.

Late yesterday evening, it was the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself who announced on X that he had “given instructions to the competent authorities so that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa is granted full and immediate access to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem“.

Jerusalem Patriarchate: “Guaranteed access to church representatives for liturgies”

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land confirm that “issues regarding Holy Week and Easter celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher have been addressed and resolved in coordination with the competent authorities. In agreement with the Israeli police, Access for representatives of the Churches has been ensured in order to conduct liturgies and ceremonies and to preserve ancient Easter traditions at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher“. “Of course, and in light of the current state of war, existing restrictions on public gatherings remain in place for the time being – the Patriarchate of Jerusalem underlines in a statement – Consequently, the Churches will ensure that liturgies and prayers are broadcast live to the faithful in the Holy Land and around the world. We express our sincere gratitude to His Excellency Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, for his prompt attention and valuable intervention. We also extend our appreciation to the heads of state and officials who acted quickly to convey their firm positions, many of whom they reached out to personally to express their sympathy and support. We wish to underline that religious faith constitutes a supreme human value, shared by all religions, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and others. Especially in times of difficulty and conflict, such as those currently endured, safeguarding freedom of worship remains a fundamental and shared duty.”

Ambassador of Israel summoned to Rome today

The Israeli ambassador to Italy was summoned today to the Farnesina in Rome to clarify what happened yesterday. “The Italian Government considers the reasons and methods of protest that Cardinal Pizzaballa decided to adopt to be absolutely understandable and totally acceptable; it does not believe that further comments from officials can help progress the discussion”, reads a note released by the Farnesina after the meeting between Jonathan Peled, and the deputy general secretary and general director for Political Affairs, Cecilia Piccioni. During the meeting, the note specifies, an updated point was made, following the new provisions given by the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

It was underlined to the Israeli Ambassador how Italy requires respect for the exercise of religious freedom, considering all believers who see Jerusalem as the cradle of their faith. The Israeli authorities were also asked to protect the presence of Christian communities in Jerusalem and the West Bank, communities that carry out an important mediation and promotion of dialogue and tolerance action. Italy is historically committed to the protection and promotion of freedom of religion and belief, also as a country of protection of the status quo of the Holy Places.

Cardinal Pizzaballa: “Only misunderstandings”

Yesterday Cardinal Pizzaballa himself spoke of “misunderstandings”, defining the “situation as very complicated”. “We didn’t understand each other and this is what happened. It never happened, I’m sorry that this happened” he said in an interview with Tg2000, the TV2000 news programme. “It is true that the police – explains Cardinal Pizzaballa – had said that the orders of the internal command had prevented any kind of aggregation in places where there is no refuge, however we had not asked for anything public, only a short and small private ceremony to save the idea of ​​the celebration in the Holy Sepulchre”.

“There were no clashes,” he further underlines, “everything was done in a very polite manner. I don’t want to force my hand, we want to use this situation to try to clarify things better in the next few days what to do while respecting everyone’s safety but also respecting the right to prayer.”

Security needs

According to the Israeli authorities, the measure would have been necessary to security needs given the continuous missile attacks carried out by Iran. In recent days, missile fragments have fallen near the Old City, making it necessary to temporarily close the sacred places to all religious denominations.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed regret for what happened, speaking of an “accident”, linked to the context of strong tension and reiterating the State of Israel’s commitment to guaranteeing religious freedom. The authorities have also made it known that they are working to allow regulated access to the holy places in the coming days.

In recent days, Netanyahu’s office explained, “Iran has repeatedly targeted the sacred places of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles” so much so that “in one attack, missile fragments fell a few meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre”.

International reactions

The case received widespread international attention. “The decision of the Israeli police to prevent the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday constitutes a violation of religious freedom and of the consolidated protections that regulate sacred places”, wrote the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, in X. “Freedom of worship in Jerusalem must be fully guaranteed, without exception, to all faiths“, added Kallas, specifying that “the multi-religious character of Jerusalem must be protected”.

A ban that is difficult to understand even for the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. This is, he said, “an unfortunate stretch that is already having major repercussions around the world.” Since all the holy places of the Old City are closed for security reasons, linked to mass gatherings, he underlines, the measure against representatives of the Catholic Church appears disproportionate. Home Front Command guidelines limit gatherings to a maximum of 50 people, and the four representatives of the Catholic Church were well within that threshold, according to the ambassador.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the decisionspeaking of a worrying violation of the status of holy places and reiterating the need to guarantee the free exercise of worship for all religions.

For the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchezthere was “an unjustified attack on religious freedom.” “The Spanish government condemns this unjustified attack on religious freedom and asks Israel to respect the diversity of beliefs and international law. Because without tolerance it is impossible to live together”, wrote Sanchez on