War in the Middle East: Holy Sepulchre inaccessible in Jerusalem and traditional Holy Week rites canceled

Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – No Palm Sunday procession from the Garden of Olives. No Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. The war unleashed by the United States and Israel against Iran is now leading to the official cancellation of the traditional Christian Holy Week rites celebrated in Jerusalem, the Holy City where Christ was killed, died and rose again.
“Due to the war,” writes Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in a message released by the Patriarchate’s official media on Sunday, March 22, “this year we were unable to experience the traditional Lenten journey in Jerusalem, with the solemn celebrations at the Holy Sepulcher and in the Holy Places of the Passion. Though we were able to pray and prepare personally,” admits the Cardinal, “we felt the loss of the community journey towards Easter. Now we ask ourselves about the celebrations of Holy Week, the beating heart of our faith, in Jerusalem and at the Holy Sepulcher.”
The restrictions imposed by the conflict and the events of recent days are also affecting the rites of the now imminent Holy Week. “In constant dialogue with the competent authorities, together with the other Christian Churches,” Patriarch Pizzaballa notes, “we are evaluating how, in the ways to be agreed upon, we can celebrate the central Mystery of our salvation in the heart of our Churches. The situation is constantly evolving, and it is not possible to provide definitive indications for the days to come; we will therefore be forced to coordinate on a day-to-day basis.” However, it is already clear that “ordinary celebrations open to all cannot take place”.
In light of these considerations, the Cardinal announces that the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives to the Old City is canceled and will be replaced by a moment of prayer for the city of Jerusalem, “at a location to be determined”. The Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday is postponed to a date to be determined, with the consent of the Dicastery for Divine Worship.
“The harshness of this time of war, which affects us all,” says Patriarch Pizzaballa, “today bears the added burden of not being able to celebrate Easter together and with dignity. This is a wound that adds to the many others inflicted by the conflict. But we must not allow ourselves to be discouraged. Though we may not gather as we would like, let us not give up prayer.” The Cardinal therefore invites everyone to “compensate for these limitations with moments of prayer as families and in our religious communities. I know that prayer is already being practiced everywhere, and I am comforted by the commitment to keeping spiritual tension alive. However, I feel the need to propose a special day in which, while each of us remains in our own places, we feel spiritually united in prayer to find comfort”. In this regard, the Patriarch urges everyone to join “in prayer next Saturday, March 28, reciting the Rosary to implore the gift of peace and serenity, especially for those suffering because of the conflict. We will do so with humble hearts, certain that our prayer, even while we are physically distant, is capable of drawing upon the strength of God's love, which unites us in a spirit of hope and trust”.

On Saturday 21 March, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land issued a statement regarding reports of the closure of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. “The community of Franciscan friars present at the Holy Sepulchre,” the statement specified, “has never ceased, day or night, to carry out the scheduled celebrations, the rites, the daily processions, and the liturgical prayers according to the provisions of the Status Quo. Even during these days, although access to the Basilica is restricted to the faithful for security reasons, prayer continues unceasingly in the Holy Places.”
“Our centuries-old presence in the Holy Places of the Redemption and the prayer that rises there every day,” the Friars of the Custody recalled, “are offered in the name of the whole Church and for the good of all humanity. In particularly dramatic moments such as those we are now experiencing, this presence intends to make visible the faith, hope, and supplication of every baptized person, so that from these Holy Places a prayer for peace and reconciliation among peoples may continue to rise.” (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 23/3/2026)

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