“The actions of the Israeli police are an expression of a lack of respect for Christian tradition and culture,” stated the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, commenting on the refusal to allow the celebration of a Holy Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that on Palm Sunday, Israeli police did not allow the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ielpo, to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Mass.
President Nawrocki stated in a post on the X platform that he expresses “strong opposition to the refusal to allow the celebration of a Holy Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem”.
“I extend words of support to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and all Christians living in the Holy Land,” he added.
He emphasized that Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, and Christians are preparing for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “The actions of the Israeli police, which I condemn, are an expression of a lack of respect for Christian tradition and culture,” the president wrote.
In recent days, Cardinal Pizzaballa announced that due to the war in the Middle East, some Holy Week celebrations in Jerusalem have been canceled, including the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives. In a message to the faithful, he conveyed that the procession will be replaced with a moment of prayer.
The Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, which usually takes place at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, is to be held when the situation allows. Churches will remain open, and clergy will strive to enable the faithful to pray and participate in the liturgy in available forms – the dignitary noted.