The traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem has been canceled due to ongoing war in the Middle East, creating uncertainty and limiting access to key holy sites. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has instead called for a “moment of prayer” and postponed the Chrism Mass, with hopes of rescheduling it later in the Easter season.
Several significant locations, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, have been closed after sustaining damage from falling shrapnel. In a letter, Cardinal Pizzaballa urged clergy to continue encouraging worship, stating that priests “shall do everything they can to encourage prayer and the faithful’s participation in the celebrations of the Paschal Mystery.”
He acknowledged the hardship caused by the conflict, writing, “The harshness of this time of war, which affects us all, today bears the added burden of not being able to celebrate Easter together and with dignity.” He added, “Though we may not gather as we would like, let us not give up prayer.”
