Israel blocks senior Catholic leaders from Jerusalem church on Palm Sunday ‘first time in centuries,’ access restored

For the first time in centuries, senior Catholic leaders were blocked from Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, sparking global outrage. Israeli authorities cited security concerns amid the Iran conflict, while church leaders and international figures, including Macron, Meloni, and US Ambassador Huckabee, condemned the decision. The incident highlights growing tensions over religious access and wartime restrictions in the city.