Jerusalem: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday criticized Israel’s decision to prevent Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering a church in Jerusalem, calling it an ‘offense’ to religious freedom. Meloni emphasized that the act of barring the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custodian of the Holy Land on an occasion as significant as Palm Sunday was an affront not only to believers but also to all communities that uphold religious freedom.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Italian government has shown its support for the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pizzaballa, who faced hindrance in accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, thus preventing him from conducting the Palm Sunday Mass. The government expressed its solidarity and concern over the incident, stressing the importance of ensuring access to religious sites.

Meloni’s statement highlighted the significance of the Holy Sepulchre as a sacred site for Christians, underscoring the necessity of safeguarding it for the conduct of religious ceremonies. The Italian government reiterated its stance on the preservation and protection of such sites, advocating for unobstructed access for the celebration of sacred rites.