For the first time in centuries, senior Catholic leaders were prevented from entering Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, one of the most sacred days in the Christian calendar, triggering sharp international criticism and a wave of diplomatic responses.
The incident, which unfolded against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions and ongoing conflict involving Iran, drew condemnation from church authorities, foreign governments and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who described the move as an “unfortunate overreach”.
