The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group has called for clarity and respect for freedom of worship after the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was prevented from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass.

With Easter approaching, the ECR Group stresses that access to holy sites must be handled with particular care and sensitivity.

ECR Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini said:

“What happened today in Jerusalem is deeply serious and unacceptable: the Catholic Church was denied access to the Holy Sepulchre, and Cardinal Pizzaballa was prevented from celebrating Holy Mass on a day of such great spiritual significance for millions of Christians around the world. This incident represents a clear violation of religious freedom and the respect due to holy sites, fundamental principles that must always be guaranteed, especially in contexts already marked by tension and fragility.

“I express my solidarity with Cardinal Pizzaballa and the Catholic community in Jerusalem, calling for an immediate restoration of conditions that allow for the free exercise of worship. The protection of religious freedom must remain an absolute priority for the international community and a fundamental tool for peaceful coexistence among peoples.”

ECR Co-Chairman Patryk Jaki said:

“The denial of access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday is a serious development and highlights the need to ensure that Christians can celebrate their most important religious moments in dignity. Christians, who remain among the most vulnerable religious communities in many parts of the world, must be able to do so without obstruction.

“As we move towards Easter, it is crucial that the coming days proceed in a spirit of calm, responsibility and respect. We expect the relevant authorities to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again and that access to holy sites is facilitated wherever possible.”

The ECR Group will continue to follow the situation closely and calls for a balanced approach that safeguards both security and fundamental freedoms. The ECR Group considers the protection of Christians worldwide to be a core priority of its human rights engagement.