Israel Blocks Catholic Leaders from Holy Sepulchre

0:00It's March 29th. This is Global News Today, driven by AI tracking the world in real time. Israeli police blocked top Catholic leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for Palm Sunday Mass, marking the first time. In centuries this has happened. The site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified is closed due to the ongoing war with Iran and missile threats hitting the city. Police notify the Church the day before, citing safety risks, narrow streets blocking emergency vehicles, and no nearby shelters. But the Latin Patriarch had fired back, calling it an overreach since they've held private masses there throughout the war without public crowds. Church spokespeople stressed, it's a sacred day kicking off Holy Week toward Easter, and blocking leaders like Cardinal Pierre Batista Pizabala hurts. Freedom of Worship Italy's Prime Minister, Georgia Maloney, condemned it as an attack on religious liberty, lodging a formal protest. Pizabala ended up celebrating mass at a nearby monastery with a safe shelter, and later

1:03pray for peace elsewhere without mentioning the block. Pope Leo XIV highlighted Middle East Christians facing tough times during these Holy days. Nenya, who clarified, there's no bad intent, just security needs, and Israel's working on a plan to let Church leaders in for the rest of Holy Week. Meanwhile, other old city holy sites, like the Western Wall, face similar limits to keep folks safe under 50 at a time.