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Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has expressed concern following reports that Israeli police prevented some Christian leaders and worshippers from observing Palm Sunday in Jerusalem.
In a post on X, Carney said he was disappointed by the decision, which affected the Latin Patriarch and other Christians seeking to celebrate at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
“I am disappointed with the decision by the Israeli police to prevent the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Christian communities from marking Palm Sunday at the Holy Sepulchre,” he said.
Carney noted that the situation raises concerns about respect for long-standing religious arrangements in the city. He added that such actions contravene the traditional rules governing access to holy sites.
He stressed that everyone in Jerusalem, regardless of their religion, should be able to worship freely and safely.
“People of every faith in Jerusalem should be able to worship freely, fully, and without fear,” he said.
However, Carney welcomed efforts to defuse tensions, noting that Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, had reached out to the Latin Patriarch, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to address the issue.
Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week for Christians, is traditionally celebrated with prayers and gatherings at key religious sites in Jerusalem.
Canada’s PM Carney condemns Israel for blocking Christians’ Palm Sunday observance
