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Spain Protests Israel’s Prevention of Palm Sunday Service at Holy Sepulchre
(MENAFN) Spain on Monday summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires to formally protest after Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares described the incident as “very concerning” and “unacceptable,” emphasizing that “this cannot happen again.” He added, “Catholic worship must be allowed to take place normally, as it has historically,” during an interview with a Spanish broadcaster.
Since 2024, Israel has maintained only a charge d’affaires in Spain, following Madrid’s recognition of Palestinian statehood and the subsequent withdrawal of its ambassador.
The blocked Mass occurred on Sunday, preventing the cardinal from entering one of Christianity’s holiest sites to lead a Palm Sunday service marking the start of Holy Week.
Albares noted that the incident is part of a wider pattern of restrictions affecting multiple religions. “This is not new. Muslim worship, for example, has also not been allowed access to the holy sites. There has been a series of obstacles affecting different religions, including Christian and Catholic worship,” he said, highlighting ongoing access challenges for religious communities in Jerusalem.
Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares described the incident as “very concerning” and “unacceptable,” emphasizing that “this cannot happen again.” He added, “Catholic worship must be allowed to take place normally, as it has historically,” during an interview with a Spanish broadcaster.
Since 2024, Israel has maintained only a charge d’affaires in Spain, following Madrid’s recognition of Palestinian statehood and the subsequent withdrawal of its ambassador.
The blocked Mass occurred on Sunday, preventing the cardinal from entering one of Christianity’s holiest sites to lead a Palm Sunday service marking the start of Holy Week.
Albares noted that the incident is part of a wider pattern of restrictions affecting multiple religions. “This is not new. Muslim worship, for example, has also not been allowed access to the holy sites. There has been a series of obstacles affecting different religions, including Christian and Catholic worship,” he said, highlighting ongoing access challenges for religious communities in Jerusalem.
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