Catholic priests reach deal with Israeli police over Easter access to Church of Holy Sepulchre

Catholic leaders will be able to conduct Easter services from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem under an agreement reached with Israeli police after priests were turned away from the holy site on Palm Sunday due to security concerns.

Easter worship at the ancient church will be held in a “symbolic, limited format” and broadcast to followers worldwide under an agreement announced Monday by Israel police and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The patriarchate said that the issue has been “addressed and resolved in coordination with the relevant authorities,” following international outrage over the decision to deny entry to the church to Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

“In agreement with the Israel Police, access for representatives of the Churches has been secured in order to conduct the liturgies and ceremonies and to preserve the ancient Easter traditions at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” said the patriarchate in a Monday statement with the Custody of the Holy Land.

Israeli police cut off access to the ancient church and other religious sites, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall, after Iranian missiles fired on Old Jerusalem earlier this month, scattering fragments near the church’s perimeter.

“Naturally, and in light of the current state of war, the existing restrictions on public gatherings remain in force for the time being,” said the patriarchate. “Accordingly, the Churches will ensure that the liturgies and prayers are broadcast live to the faithful in the Holy Land and throughout the world.”

Police said the “complex security reality” of Operation Roaring Lion, the U.S.-Israeli assault on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure launched last month, required a balance between freedom of worship and the “protection of human life.”

“As part of this effort, a meeting was held this morning with Latin Catholic Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, during which it was agreed that the traditional ceremonies would be held in a symbolic and limited format,” said the police in a Monday statement.

“There was broad agreement during the meeting regarding the unique security situation this year, and that current conditions do not allow for large-scale gatherings,” the statement said. “It was also noted that in the past two weeks, several missile and interception debris impacts have occurred near and within some of the holy sites. The danger is real, present, and immediate.”

The press release was accompanied by a photo of Cardinal Pizzaballa shaking hands with Commander Dvir Tamim of the David Sub-District of the Jerusalem District.

Kudos to @israelpolice for resolving misunderstanding regarding access to Church of Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday. There is equal access for ALL faiths & equal guidelines for safety. https://t.co/bHOwzn1ncx

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) March 30, 2026

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee praised Israeli authorities for allowing access to the site during Holy Week, a message echoed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt at Monday’s media briefing.

“I did speak with Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio this morning, and we did express our concerns with Israel with respect to these holy sites being shut down,” Ms. Leavitt said. “We want worshippers to be able to access these holy sites, and of course, safety is a top priority, but we understand Israel is working on security measures to reopen the sites throughout Holy Week, and that’s something we’re appreciative of.”

A day earlier, Mr. Huckabee joined international leaders in condemning authorities for preventing the Catholic priests from entering the church for traditional Palm Sunday worship, calling it an “unfortunate overreach.”

He said that Home Front Command Guidelines restricted gatherings at the church to fewer than 50 people, but that Cardinal Pizzaballa was accompanied by the Rev. Francesco Ielpo, Custos of the Holy Land, and two others, for a party of four.

“For the Patriarch to be barred from entry to the Church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony is difficult to understand or justify,” said Mr. Huckabee in the Sunday statement.

World leaders denouncing the incident included French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Shortly thereafter, Israel President Isaac Herzog called the cardinal to apologize, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered police to grant the Latin Patriarchate “full and immediate access” to the church, recognized as the location where Jesus was crucified.

Cardinal Pizzaballa himself chalked up the incident to “misunderstandings” in an interview with TV2000, but the episode provided fodder to U.S. critics of Israel on the left and right.

Blackwater founder Erik Prince called the incident “a horrific affront to Christianity,” telling podcast host Steve Bannon that Israel should allow worshipers to take their chances rather than prevent them from entering the church.