A meeting took place on Monday, March 30 between Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, accompanied by Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, and Yaron Sideman, Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Holy See.

The Holy See Press Office reported the encounter via its Telegram channel, explaining that the meeting took place following the “unfortunate incident” on March 29, Palm Sunday, which involved Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Father Francesco Ielpo, OFM, Custos of the Holy Land, being prevented by Israeli police from accessing the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

“During the conversation,” the Holy See Press Office statement reads, “regret was expressed over what happened, clarifications were provided, and note was taken of the agreement reached between the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the local authorities regarding participation in the liturgies of the Easter Triduum at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.”