"This morning, the Israeli Police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem ... together with the Custos of the Holy Land, the Most Reverend Fr. Francesco Ielpo ... from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem as they made their way to celebrate the Palm Sunday Mass," a statement from the Patriarchate said.

The two were proceeding privately, without any ceremonial procession, and were forced to turn back, it said.

"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," it said, calling the incident a "grave precedent" that disregards the sensibilities of Christians worldwide.

Palm Sunday, which opens Holy Week for Christians, marks Jesus Christ's final entry into Jerusalem, days before his crucifixion and resurrection, as described in the Gospels.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre contains the sites where Christians believe Christ was crucified and where he was entombed and resurrected, making it the holiest location in the religion.

Since US-Israeli strikes on Iran sparked the Middle East war on February 28, Israeli authorities have banned large gatherings, including at synagogues, churches and mosques.

Public gatherings are limited to around 50 people.

- 'No malicious intent' -

"War will not erase the resurrection. Grief will not extinguish hope," Pizzaballa said at a Palm Sunday mass he held later at the Church of All Nations, also known as the Church of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives.

"Today, we do not carry palms in procession. Instead, we carry the cross -- a cross that is not a useless burden, but the source of true peace," he said to a tiny gathering of worshippers.

The Patriarchate had already announced the cancellation of the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem, which normally draws thousands.

"The heads of churches have acted with full responsibility and, since the outset of the war, have complied with all imposed restrictions," the Patriarchate said.

Israeli police said all holy sites in Jerusalem have been closed since the start of the war.

"The Patriarch's request was reviewed yesterday, and it was clarified that it could not be approved," it said in a statement to AFP.

"The Old City and the holy sites constitute a complex area that does not allow access for large emergency and rescue vehicles, which significantly challenges response capabilities and poses a real risk to human life in the event of a mass casualty incident," the force said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on X that the police had "no malicious intent whatsoever, only concern for his safety and that of his party" in preventing the Latin Patriarch from entering the church.

The Patriarchate said it was an "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."

- 'Series of violations ' -

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the Israeli police action, saying the incident was "an offence not only to the faithful but to any community that respects religious freedom".

Pope Leo XIV, speaking after the Angelus prayer in Rome on Sunday, paid tribute to "the Christians of the Middle East, who suffer the consequences of a terrible conflict and in many cases cannot fully live the rites of these holy days".

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the police action.

Their action "adds to a worrying series of violations of the status of holy places in Jerusalem", he said on X.

The Jordanian foreign ministry also slammed what it said was a "flagrant violation" and urged an end to measures restricting worshippers' access to places of worship.

In the Old City of Jerusalem, shops were shuttered and streets lay largely deserted, as Christian worshippers expressed sorrow over the cancellation of the traditional Palm Sunday processions.

"It's very sad this year. Because we are always used to the procession that starts from the Mount of Olives, but this year because of the precautions of the war it's forbidden," 51-year-old Andre, who gave only his first name, told AFP.

Simon Hosh, 25, a resident of the Old City, similarly said: "This year because of the war we cannot celebrate in the streets like always.

"So, this year we just celebrate in the church. It's bad."

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