Easter celebrations will proceed at Church of Holy Sepulchre

By CathNews New Zealand

April 2nd, 2026

(Paul Simpson/Wikimedia Commons)

Church authorities in the Holy Land have confirmed that Holy Week and Easter liturgies will be celebrated at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Source: Vatican News.

In a joint statement, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land said “all matters concerning the Holy Week and Easter celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre have been addressed and resolved in coordination with the relevant authorities”.

“In agreement with the Israeli police, access for representatives of the Churches has been secured in order to conduct the liturgies and ceremonies and to preserve the ancient Easter traditions at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” the statement added.

The agreement follows an incident on Palm Sunday when the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Fr Francesco Ielpo, Custos of the Holy Land, were stopped by Israeli police outside the church as they were planning to celebrate a Mass to mark the start of Holy Week.

Cardinal Pizzaballa’s office said it was “the first time in centuries” a Latin Patriarch had been turned away from the holy site on Palm Sunday.

The joint statement also said that “in light of the current state of war, existing restrictions on public gatherings remain in force”.

For this reason, the Churches will provide live streaming of liturgies and prayers, allowing the faithful in the Holy Land and throughout the world to participate spiritually.

The religious authorities went on to express gratitude to Israeli President Isaac Herzog for a timely and decisive intervention. They also extended their thanks to heads of state and officials who acted promptly, many of whom personally expressed their closeness and support.

The statement strongly emphasised that “religious faith constitutes a supreme human value, shared by all religions, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and others. Especially in times of hardship and conflict, such as those presently endured, safeguarding the freedom of worship remains a fundamental and shared duty”.

The Church authorities expressed the hope that appropriate solutions will continue to be found “enabling prayer to take place in places of worship, particularly in the holy places of all religions”, balancing security needs with the right to religious practice, which is fundamental for hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide.

The Church is renewing its prayer for an end to the war that is deeply affecting the entire region, the statement added.

FULL STORY

Jerusalem: Easter celebrations ensured at Holy Sepulchre (Vatican News)