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Monday, March 30, 2026
White House says it reached out to Israel over barring of Catholic leaders from Church of Holy Sepulchre
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
WASHINGTON — The White House confirms that it reached out to Israel to express its concern over the Israel Police’s decision to block two top Catholic officials from praying at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday yesterday.
The officials who were barred were the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Father Francesco Ielpo, custos of the Holy Land.
“We did express our concerns with Israel with respect to these holy sites being shut down,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says during a briefing.
Hours earlier, Catholic officials in Jerusalem announced that prayer arrangements for Holy Week, which culminates with Easter on Sunday, April 5, had been resolved with Israeli authorities, ending a diplomatic spat over the issue.
“We want worshipers to be able to access these holy sites. Of course, safety is a top priority, but we understand Israel is working on the security measures to reopen the sites throughout Holy Week, and that’s something that we’re appreciative of,” she adds.
The Times of Israel Community.