Ruptly
"The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, presided over mass at the Church of All Nations in East Jerusalem, marking Palm Sunday with prayers for peace. Footage shows the Patriarch leading the service while accompanied by several bishops and priests. "We are gathered here today before Jerusalem in a very complex situation that we are living through. Yet, in this moment, in front of the Holy City of Jerusalem, we desire to come together with Jesus," the Cardinal said. "We wish to enter with Him into Jerusalem and to learn once again how to dwell in this city, remaining always a community that wants to build brotherhood, friendship, communion and fraternity among all, and to be an instrument of peace and reconciliation," he continued. Father Pizzabella presided over a Liturgy of the Word and prayer for peace at the Church of All Nations after being barred from entry at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - where he was set to preside over Palm Sunday mass. Israel's Government Press Office said that the ban on the patriarch's entry into Jerusalem was imposed 'out of concern for his safety' amid Iranian attacks, citing "the targeting of sites in the Old City of Jerusalem and the fall of shrapnel near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre". The press office also noted that President Isaac Herzog contacted the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to express 'his deep regret' over the incident in the Old City. According to Palestinian media, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs "condemned the deprivation of thousands of Christians from celebrating Palm Sunday in Jerusalem." The ministry further described Israel's ban on Pizzabella's entry as "a violation of freedom of worship that led to the cancellation of religious festivities". Palm Sunday marks the end of Great Lent for Christians, commemorating Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, where he was greeted with palm branches after his 40-day fast in the desert. Tensions have escalated across the Middle East since the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on February 28, amid diplomatic talks aimed at 'curbing Iran's nuclear and missile programmes'. Tehran responded with retaliatory strikes on Israeli and US assets in the region, accompanied by reports of explosions in several Gulf countries. Iran later confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with his son Mojtaba Khamenei named as his successor. The conflict spilt over into Lebanon as Hezbollah intervened 'in revenge' for the killing of the Iranian Supreme Leader."
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