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Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem church MELANIE LIDMAN and NICOLE WINFIELD Sun, March 29, 2026 at 3:06 PM UTC 0 1 / 0Israel Palm SundayFaithful attend a prayer service in the Church of All Nations, held by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to mark Palm Sunday in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem church

MELANIE LIDMAN and NICOLE WINFIELD Sun, March 29, 2026 at 3:06 PM UTC

1 / 0Israel Palm SundayFaithful attend a prayer service in the Church of All Nations, held by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to mark Palm Sunday in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Ammar Awad/Pool Photo via AP) ()

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli police prevented Catholic leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Mass on the Christian holiday of Palm Sunday for the first time in centuries, the Latin Patriarchate said Sunday.

Jerusalem's major holy sites are closed because of the ongoing Iran war, including the church, as the city has come under frequent fire from Iranian missiles.

The Catholic Church called the police decision "a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure." It prevented two of the church's top religious leaders, including Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the head of the Custos in the Holy Land, from celebrating Palm Sunday at the place where Christians believe Jesus was crucified.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem and launches the Holy Week commemorations for Christians who follow the Latin calendar, which culminates in Easter next Sunday.

The Israeli police said it had notified the Catholic Church on Saturday that no Mass could take place on Palm Sunday because of safety considerations, the lack of access for emergency vehicles in narrow alleys of the Old City and lack of adequate shelter.

However, the Latin Patriarchate said the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been hosting Masses that aren't open to the public since the Iran war began on Feb. 28, and it was unclear why Sunday's Mass and access by the two priests was any different.

"It's a very, very sacred day for Christians and in our opinion there was no justification for such a decision or such an action," said Farid Jubran, the spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Jubran said that the church had requested permission from the police for a few religious leaders to enter the church for a private Mass on Sunday — not one that was open to the public. The Patriarchate said that the decision impeded freedom of worship and the status quo in Jerusalem.

The traditional Palm Sunday procession normally sees tens of thousands of Christians from around the world walk from the Mount of Olives down the narrow, hilly streets toward the Old City, waving palm fronds and singing.

The Patriarchate canceled the traditional processional last week because of safety concerns, and has held Masses limited to fewer than 50 worshippers in compliance with the Israeli military's guidelines for civilians.

Pizzaballa celebrated Mass in the nearby St. Savior's Monastery, a soaring marble church which is located next to an underground music school that the Israeli military has deemed a safe shelter space. Later on Sunday, Pizzaballa held a prayer for peace at the Dominus Flevit Shrine on the Mount of Olives, but kept his homily concentrated on Jesus and didn't mention the morning's incident.

Pope Leo XIV, at the end of Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square, prayed for all Christians in the Middle East who he said were living through an "atrocious" conflict. He said that "in many cases, they cannot live fully the rites of these holy days," though he didn't elaborate.

The Vatican spokesman didn't immediately respond when asked to comment on the Jerusalem incident.

Italy condemns decision

Italy formally protested the incident to Israeli authorities. Premier Giorgia Meloni said that the police action "constitutes an offense not only against believers but against every community that recognizes religious freedom."

"The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is a sacred site of Christianity, and as such must be preserved and protected for the celebration of sacred rites," Meloni said. "Preventing the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land from entering, especially on a solemnity central to the faith such as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offense not only against believers but against every community that recognizes religious freedom."

Meloni's conservative government tried to keep a balanced position with Israel during the war in Gaza, supporting Israel's right to defense but condemning the toll on Palestinians.

The Italian leader has also said that Italy won't participate in the Iran war, while affirming that the Islamic Republic can't be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani instructed Italy's ambassador to Israel to convey the protest "and to reaffirm Italy's commitment to protecting religious freedom at all times and under all circumstances."

In addition, Tajani summoned the Israeli ambassador to Italy for talks on Monday at the Italian Foreign Ministry to seek clarification about the decision.

Israeli leader explains closure

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday evening that there was no "malicious intent" and that the cardinal was prevented from accessing the church because of safety concerns, but that Israel would try to partially open the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the coming days.

"Given the holiness of the week leading up to Easter for the world's Christians, Israel's security arms are putting together a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days," Netanyahu wrote on X.

The Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray, is also mostly closed because of safety issues, but authorities are letting up to 50 people at a time pray in an enclosed area adjacent to the plaza.

Smaller churches, synagogues, and mosques are open in Jerusalem's Old City if they are located within a certain distance of a bomb shelter deemed acceptable by Israel's military and, if gatherings are kept under 50 people.

___ Nicole Winfield reported from Rome.

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Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem church

Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem church MELANIE LIDMAN and N...

Former President Joe Biden, Jill Biden adopt 2 new rescue dogs Kate Perez, USA TODAY Sun, March 29, 2026 at 3:05 PM UTC 3 Two new furry friends are joining former President Joe Biden's family. The Biden family adopted two black lab mixes on March 24 from Rescue DOG & End of Life Sanctuary in Tennessee, the organization said in a social media post alongside a picture of the former president and former first lady Jill Biden with the new pets. "These two Johnson County pups were adopted together yesterday by the Biden family.

Former President Joe Biden, Jill Biden adopt 2 new rescue dogs

Kate Perez, USA TODAY Sun, March 29, 2026 at 3:05 PM UTC

Two new furry friends are joining former President Joe Biden's family.

The Biden family adopted two black lab mixes on March 24 from Rescue DOG & End of Life Sanctuary in Tennessee, the organization said in a social media post alongside a picture of the former president and former first lady Jill Biden with the new pets.

"These two Johnson County pups were adopted together yesterday by the Biden family. As you can see the pup on the right is staying true to Johnson County TN character and will not sit still for the photo shoot .. ready to run and play," the post read.

The organization said they are excited about the Biden's adoption in the post and also enjoy when animals are adopted by Tennessee locals.

"To us .. a great home is a great home! We are thrilled for these two pups who were once abandoned on the mountain," the post read. "We always tell each one, 'make us proud' .. these two sure did."

Biden's other dogs: Commander, Biden's banished German shepherd, had at least 25 biting incidents in a year

The two mixes are the latest additions to the Biden's pets, which also include a cat, Willow. The Bidens also welcomed dogs Major and Commander in the last decade, but both were reportedly rehomed after multiple biting incidents.

The new dogs' names have not yet been shared by the former president or first lady as of the morning of March 29.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 black lab mix rescues join former President Joe Biden's family

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Former President Joe Biden, Jill Biden adopt 2 new rescue dogs

Former President Joe Biden , Jill Biden adopt 2 new rescue dogs Kate Perez, USA TODAY Sun, March 29, 2026 at 3:05 PM UT...

Europe seeks to increase deportations as some warn of Trumplike tactics SAM McNEIL and GIADA ZAMPANO Sun, March 29, 2026 at 3:35 PM UTC 12 Migrants trying to reach Britain, walk on a beach shore in Gravelines, northern France, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/JeanFrancois Badias) () BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is expanding its powers to track, raid and deport migrants to " return hubs ″ in third countries in Africa and elsewhere, quietly adopting tactics of the Trump administration that have drawn public criticism across the 27nation bloc.

Europe seeks to increase deportations as some warn of Trump-like tactics

SAM McNEIL and GIADA ZAMPANO Sun, March 29, 2026 at 3:35 PM UTC

Migrants trying to reach Britain, walk on a beach shore in Gravelines, northern France, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) ()

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is expanding its powers to track, raid and deport migrants to " return hubs ″ in third countries in Africa and elsewhere, quietly adopting tactics of the Trump administration that have drawn public criticism across the 27-nation bloc.

The EU continues to tighten migration policies after right-wing parties took power in some countries in 2024. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, from the center-right European People's Party coalition, has said that the new measures will prevent a repeat of the 2015 crisis caused by Syria's civil war, when about 1 million people arrived to seek asylum.

"We have learnt the lessons of the past. And today, we are better equipped," von der Leyen has said. The new policies, known as the Pact on Migration and Asylum, go into effect on June 12.

Far-right parties in Europe have praised the deportation policies of U.S. President Donald Trump and called for the EU to adopt a similar approach. Human rights groups warn that authorities are already illegally pushing back migrants at EU borders and hollowing out their legal protections.

Italy provides a model

The EU already spends millions of dollars to deter migrants before they reach its shores, and has supported tens of thousands of Africans returning home, voluntarily or by force.

What's envisioned now is an expansion of what Italy has created under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her "tough on migration" stance. It operates two migrant detention centers for rejected asylum-seekers in Albania. One currently holds at least 90 migrants, said lawmaker Rachele Scarpa, who said that she found people confused and scared during a recent visit.

In addition, Meloni's Cabinet has approved an anti-immigration package that would allow the navy to halt vessels in international waters for up to six months if they are deemed a threat to public order; return intercepted migrants to countries of origin or third countries; and speed up the deportation of foreign nationals convicted of crimes.

An "informal group" of EU nations including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark and Greece are pursuing deportation center agreements, said Bernd Parusel, a researcher at the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies.

Kenya is one country they are speaking with, said Tineke Strik, a Dutch member of the European Parliament. Whether consciously or not, the plan is similar to Trump's deals with nations like El Salvador to take in deported migrants, she said.

Other countries are exploring similar ideas. Sweden's migration minister has said the conservative ruling coalition approves setting up hubs outside Europe, especially for Afghan and Syrian asylum-seekers.

Some in Europe cheer Trump-style tactics

During the Winter Olympics in Italy, protests erupted over the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to provide security to the U.S. delegation. But others in Europe have praised ICE's actions and called for setting up deportation-focused police units.

In 2024, Belgium passed a law allowing the EU border service Frontex operations inside the country, stoking fears among activists that Frontex could join in on raids.

But Frontex's mandate just covers borders, said spokesperson Chris Borowski, and the current role in voluntary or involuntary returns for the service includes "coordinating flights, helping with travel documents and making sure fundamental rights are respected throughout the process."

The European Commission has declined requests to take a position on U.S. federal immigration policies.

In Britain, which left the EU several years ago, the center-left Labour Party government has made curbing unauthorized immigration a key focus.

In February, the Home Office said that almost 60,000 people had been deported since the government was elected in July 2024. It said 9,000 arrests were made of people working without permission in 2025, up by more than half from the year before.

Pushbacks, raids and surveillance increase

Under the principle of non-refoulement in EU and international law, a person can't be returned to a country where they would face persecution.

But European immigration enforcement tactics include so-called pushbacks, where people trying to cross into the EU are forced back across a border without access to asylum procedures.

Authorities in Europe carry out an average of 221 pushbacks a day, according to a February report by a group of humanitarian organizations. More than 80,000 pushbacks were recorded in 2025, the report said, mostly in Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and Latvia.

"Men, women and children — including individuals in critical medical condition — are routinely subjected to beatings, attacks by police dogs, forced stripping, forced river crossings and theft of personal belongings," according to the report.

European agents are brutalizing migrants just like in the U.S., said Flor Didden, migration policy expert at the Belgian human rights group 11.11.11. Some, like in Greece, even wear masks.

"The images are shocking and the outrage is justified," he said of the U.S. "But where is that same moral clarity when European border authorities abuse, rob and let people die?"

Europe still has more protections for migrants

The groups also have recorded an expansion of surveillance technology like drones, thermal cameras and satellites to monitor people on the move.

Other human rights groups warn of a weakening of legal protections.

The EU's new migration regulations allow for more police raids in private homes and public spaces and more use of surveillance and racial profiling, said a letter to EU institutions in February from 88 nonprofit groups including the Brussels-based Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants.

"We cannot be outraged by ICE in the United States while also supporting these practices in Europe," said the platform's director, Michele LeVoy.

Olivia Sundberg Diez, EU migration advocate for Amnesty International, said Europe retains more protections for vulnerable migrants than the United States but shares much of the political momentum toward harsher policies.

"There's a level of institutions' and courts' independence and human rights compliance in Europe that you can't disregard," she said. "But the fundamental political impulse is the same, and I worry that the human consequences will be the same."

___

Giada Zampano reported from Rome. Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, Jill Lawless in London, Paolo Santalucia in Rome, Claudia Ciobanu in Warsaw, Poland, and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Frontex's mandate just covers borders, and that it didn't join raids with Belgian authorities.

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Europe seeks to increase deportations as some warn of Trump-like tactics

Europe seeks to increase deportations as some warn of Trumplike tactics SAM McNEIL and GIADA ZAMPANO Sun, March 29, 202...

Iran says it&x27;s bracing for ground assault as peace talks stumble: What to know Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAYSun, March 29, 2026 at 3:19 PM UTC 0 Regional powers in the Middle East are converging in Pakistan in efforts to scale down the expanding U.S.Israel war with Iran after the country rejected President Donald Trump's 15point peace plan, and as thousands of American troops arrived in the region While negotiations stumble, Iran's parliamentary leader said the country is bracing for a possible U.S.led ground assault.

Iran says it's bracing for ground assault as peace talks stumble: What to know

Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAYSun, March 29, 2026 at 3:19 PM UTC

Regional powers in the Middle East are converging in Pakistan in efforts to scale down the expanding U.S.-Israel war with Iran after the country rejected President Donald Trump's 15-point peace plan, and as thousands of American troops arrived in the region

While negotiations stumble, Iran's parliamentary leader said the country is bracing for a possible U.S.-led ground assault. His comments came hours after The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on March 27 the United States will not need ground troops to win the war, but added that the military must also give the president "maximum opportunity" should things change.

Rubio added that the war will not be a prolonged conflict, echoing many administration officials over the past few weeks in promising a speedy end. The U.S.-Israel war with Iran, launched Feb. 28, is now in its fifth week.

Here's what to know.

More: Pope Leo says God rejects prayers of leaders who wage wars

1 / 0Over 100 killed at girls' school in Iran amid US-Israeli strikes

This picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency shows the site of a strike on a girls' school in Minab, in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, on February 28, 2026. Iranian authorities said the strike killed up to 175 people, most of them elementary-school-aged girls. It may be the deadliest known mass casualty event involving civilians of the war so far, though USA TODAY could not independently verify many details about the incident including the exact death toll, the identities of those involved and who was responsible for the strike.According to President Donald Trump, the United States joined Israel in launching military strikes, as well as "major combat operations," to target Iran's missile capabilities. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint strikes with Israel on Iran, an Israeli source confirmed to USA TODAY. Trump also confirmed on Truth Social that the leader had been killed.

Iran says US readying for ground assault amid peace talks

Iran's speaker of the parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, alleged in remarks published by Iranian state media on March 29 that the United States is secretly planning for a "ground attack," even as American officials have pressed for negotiations.

"As long as the Americans seek Iran's surrender, our response is that we will never accept humiliation," he said in a message to the nation.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are slated to meet in Islamabad on March 29 to discuss ways to halt the war, though it's not clear if there will be any U.S. or Iranian representatives present.

The United States said last week it had offered a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran, with a proposal to reopen waterways and restrict Iran's nuclear program. But Tehran has rejected the list and put forward proposals of its own.

Trump has also in recent days threatened to hit Iranian power stations and other energy infrastructure if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for the world's energy supply. After the stock market had its worst single day of the war on March 27, Trump announced an extension of his deadline for the strait to reopen, giving Iran another 10 days.

Foreign Ministers Badr Abdelatty of Egypt, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Ishaq Dar of Pakistan and Hakan Fidan of Turkey meet to discuss regional de-escalation, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 29, 2026.

U.S. Central Command said in a post on X on March 28 that 3,500 troops and the amphibious assault ship the USS Tripoli arrived in the Middle East region. The contingent includes sailors and Marines and strike fighter aircraft.

Iran, Israel trade strikes, and Houthis enter conflict

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have entered the conflict after launching missile and drone attacks on southern Israel on March 27 and 28. The group's strikes open a new front in the war and raise the specter of further escalation and disruption in the Gulf.

As efforts to find a negotiated end to the war inched forward, Israel and Iran have traded consistent strikes over the weekend. Israel's military said on March 29 its forces had targeted Tehran's weapons manufacturing infrastructure, including dozens of storage and production sites the day before.

The U.S.-based rights group HRANA said on March 28 it had recorded more than 700 attacks throughout Iran over the course of the day, calling it one of the deadliest 24-hour periods since the war began. The group, which collects open-source data, tracked the majority of the attacks in Tehran, and reported 24 civilians were killed and 88 injured.

A woman walks next to the Qatari Al-Araby TV and business building damaged by a strike, as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran continues, in Tehran, Iran, March 29, 2026.

Hundreds gathered in Beirut to mourn three Lebanese journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 28. Lebanon's Al Manar TV reported the three correspondents, one with the channel and two with broadcaster Al-Mayadeen, were killed while in a media vehicle. A Lebanese soldier was also killed.

Israel's military alleged one of the journalists was part of a Hezbollah intelligence unit and accused him of reporting on the locations of Israeli soldiers.

How many people have been killed in the war?

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies tally at least 1,900 people have been killed and 20,000 injured in Iran as of March 27, Reuters reported. HRANA puts the death toll at 3,461, of which 1,208 are military fatalities and at least 1,551 are civilians. Another 702 are unclassified between civilian and military personnel.

Lebanon's public health authorities said 1,142 people have been killed by Israeli strikes as of March 27, and 3,315 injured. It's not clear if the death toll reported by Lebanese authorities includes Hezbollah fighters.

A woman sits in a cemetery before the funeral of Lebanese journalists, Al Manar reporter Ali Shaib, Al Mayadeen reporter Fatima Ftouni and cameraman Mohammed Ftouni, who were killed by a targeted Israeli strike amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, in Choueifat, Lebanon, March 29, 2026.

Iraqi health authorities said at least 100 people have been killed since the start of the crisis, Reuters reported. Missiles launched from Iran and Lebanon towards Israel have killed 19 people in Israel, according to Israel's ambulance service. The Israeli military said four of its soldiers were also killed in southern Lebanon.

The number of American service members wounded in the Iran war has grown beyond 300, according to the Pentagon. The death toll remains at 13 service members killed.

More than two dozen have been killed across other nations and territories pulled into the regional crisis, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the West Bank and United Arab Emirates.

Contributing: Reuters.

Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Latest on Iran war: Iranian leaders bracing for ground assault

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Iran says it's bracing for ground assault as peace talks stumble: What to know

Iran says it&x27;s bracing for ground assault as peace talks stumble: What to know Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAYSun, ...

50 Palm Sunday Quotes for Your WeekendBeforeEaster Celebration Traci RhoadesSun, March 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC 0 Palm Sunday has the stuff that makes children's church programs so fun: palm branches, singing and shouting, a donkey and more. Yet these things also carry the weight of symbolic significance for Christians moving into Holy Week—remembering the events of Jesus' last week on earth, his final moments leading to the crucifixion and his resurrection three days later. Palm Sunday kicks it all off—and we've got the 50 best Palm Sunday quotesand scriptures to share.

50 Palm Sunday Quotes for Your Weekend-Before-Easter Celebration

Traci RhoadesSun, March 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC

Palm Sunday has the stuff that makes children's church programs so fun: palm branches, singing and shouting, a donkey and more.

Yet these things also carry the weight of symbolic significance for Christians moving into Holy Week—remembering the events of Jesus' last week on earth, his final moments leading to the crucifixion and his resurrection three days later. Palm Sunday kicks it all off—and we've got the 50 best Palm Sunday quotesand scriptures to share. All four gospels offer an account of what is known as "Jesus's Triumphal Entry" into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; and John 12:12-19). Jesus enters on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9:"Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (NRSV). The people, on this particular day, love him. A great crowd forms around him, waving palm branches in the air, eventually laying them on the road beside their cloaks. For thousands of years, Christians have been observing Palm Sunday, which is on March 29, 2026, this year. The palm branches we wave on this day will become the ashes we smear on our foreheads next year for Ash Wednesday.May these 50 quotes help you reflect on Palm Sunday, preparing you for your own entrance into the sacred spaces of Holy Week, and a blessed Resurrection Sunday to you. Related: 115 Encouraging Bible Verses to Motivate You Throughout the Day

50 Best Palm Sunday Quotes & Scriptures

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1. "The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!'" - Matthew 21:9 2. "Now to the gate of my Jerusalem, The seething holy city of my heart, The saviour comes. - Malcolm Quite (Sounding the Seasons)

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3. "Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime." - Martin Luther 4. Mother Teresa, when interviewed by Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, and asked about how she'd handle the accolades that came with winning the Nobel Peace prize: "Do you think, Mr. Carson, for one moment, that that little donkey thought the crowd was giving him the praise and glory instead of Jesus?" 5. "After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, 'Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God.'" - Revelation 19:1 6. "For no miracle disturbed them so much as that of Lazarus." - St. John Chrysostom 7. "Remember finally, that the ashes on your forehead are created from the burnt palms of last Palm Sunday. New beginnings invariably come from old false things that are allowed to die." - Richard Rohr (Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent) Related: What Are the 7 'I Am' Statements of Jesus?8. "As one born of the Holy Spirit and a daughter of the Spirit, you are able to behold the spiritual procession of your King, you are able to behold the righteousness of your King." - St. Ignatius Brianchaninov; translated by Nun Cornelia (Rees) 9. "He barreled through barriers that usually stop us dead in our tracks–fear of ridicule, fear of suffering, abandonment by our closest companions." - Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio10. "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and the obedience of the peoples is his, binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he washes his garments in wine and his robe in the blood of grapes." - Genesis 49:10-11 (NRSV)Related: 25+ Women in the Bible Who Teach Us About Patience, Strength and Faithfulness

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11. "Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die; O Christ, thy triumphs now begin O'er captive death and conquered sin." - Henry Hart Milman (Hymn "Ride on! Ride on in Majesty!") 12. "So let us spread before his feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in his grace, or rather, clothed completely in him." - Andrew of CreteRelated:When Is Lent This Year?13. "Earth is so thick with divine possibility that it is a wonder we can walk anywhere without cracking our shins on altars." - Barbara Brown Taylor (An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith) 14. "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord." - Psalm 118:26 (NRSV) 15. "On this day he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph, and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who spread their garments and branches of palm along his way. Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen." - Book of Common Prayer 16. "The Lord instructs two of his disciples to go into the village and untether a donkey. If there is any protest, they are to say, 'The Master has need of it.' This is true of every baptized person: the Master has need of your gifts, of you, of the whole of your life." - Bishop Robert Barron 17. "You showed your strength in choosing penury, since for you to be seated on a foal is a form of beggary. But in glory you shake Zion." - St. Romanos the Melodist

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18. "From beginning to end, the Holy Scriptures testify that the predicament of fallen humanity is so serious, so grave, so irremediable from within, that nothing short of divine intervention can rectify it." - Fleming Rutledge (The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ)19. "I'm goin'a sing when the Spirit says sing, I'm goin'a sing when the Spirit says sing, I'm goin'a sing when the Spirit says sing, and obey the Spirit of the Lord." - African-American Spiritual (author unknown)Related:25 Lenten Prayers20. "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people." - Deuteronomy 32:43 (NKJV)21. "Holy, Holy, Holy. Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. - Sanctus (an ancient hymn)22. "Everywhere in medieval times, following the Roman custom, a procession composed of the clergy and laity carrying palms moved from a chapel or shrine outside the town, where the palms were blessed, to the cathedral or main church. Our Lord was represented in the procession, either by the Blessed Sacrament or by a crucifix, adorned with flowers, carried by the celebrant of the Mass." - Fr. Francis X. Weiser23. "Glory, praise and honor, O Christ, our Savior-King, To thee in glad Hosannas inspired children sing." - Benedictine Theodulph, Bishop of Orleans in Latin song: "Gloria, laus et honor"24. "All hail the pow'r of Jesus' Name; Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all!" - Edward Perronet (Hymn "All Hail The Power of Jesus' Name")25. "Then hurriedly they all took their cloaks and spread them for him on the bare steps; and they blew the trumpet, and proclaimed, 'Jehu is king.'" - I Kings 9:1326. "So when we sing 'Hosanna' now, let's make it very personal. Let's make it our praise and our confidence. The Son of David has come. He has saved us from guilt and fear and hopelessness. Salvation! Salvation belongs to our God and to the Son! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!" - John Piper27. "The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: 'It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him.'" - John 12:17-19 (Eugene Peterson: The Message Bible)28. "Let us not therefore think highly of ourselves, even if we see ourselves greatly distinguished for our virtues: rather let us offer up the praises of our thanksgivings to Christ Who redeems us, and Who also it is that grants us even the desire to be able to act rightly: by Whom and with Whom to God the Father be praise and dominion, with the Holy Spirit, for over and ever, Amen." -St. Cyril of Alexandria29. "He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street." - Psalm 42:2 (NRSV)Related: Quiz Your Family's Knowledge With These 300 Bible Trivia Questions (With Answers!)

Photo by Grant Whitty on Unsplash (Photo by Grant Whitty on Unsplash)

30. "Self-denial is saying only: He goes ahead of us; hold fast to him." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer31. "How dangerous a master human emotion is!" - Watchman Nee32. "[David] The king said to them, 'Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.'" - I Kings 1:33 (NRSV)33. "Lower your expectations of earth. This isn't Heaven, so don't expect it to be." - Max Lucado34. "If you recognise your involvement and prepare to walk with Jesus into the city, to the cross and the tomb, there is a joy and a mystery at the end of the path, because it is inexhaustible divine love that walks with us." - Dr. Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury)35. Some things would have been clear to bystanders. In a world with few books but many Scripture readings, the crowds would doubtless have picked up Jesus's reference to Zechariah's prophecy about a king riding a donkey. - N.T. Wright ("Palm Sunday As Street Theatre: What Jesus's Performance Meant, And What It Means Today.")36. "The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates is near." - Isaiah 50:7 (NRSV)37. One cannot be humble and aware of oneself at the same time. - Madeleine L'Engle (A Circle of Quiet)Related: When Is Passover? Everything You About the Holiday38. "In 586 BC, Ezekiel saw the glory of God leave the temple, leave the holy city, and come down on Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Now, the One whom the Scriptures define as the brightness of the glory of God comes from Bethany, from the Mount of Olives, goes into the Eastern Gate, goes to the Holy City, and goes to the temple." - R.C. Sproul39. "Christ did not by progress become God—heaven forbid!—but in mercy he became man, as we believe. We do not preach a divinized man, but instead we confess an incarnate God." - Proclus of Constantinople40. "Hosanna in the highest!" That ancient song we sing, for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven, our King." - Jennette Threlfall (Hymn: "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna")41. "God, of your goodness, give me yourself; you are enough for me, and anything less that I could ask for would not do you full honor. And if I ask anything that is less, I shall always lack something, but in you alone I have everything." - Julian of Norwich (Revelations of Divine Love)42. "His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him." - John 12:16 (NRSV)43. "By thus riding through the streets in state, Jesus Christ claimed to be a king. That claim had been to a great extent kept in the background until now; but ere he goes to his Father, when his enemies rage has reached its utmost fury, and when his own hour of deepest humiliation has just arrived, he makes an open claim before the eyes of all men to be called and acknowledged a king." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon44. "When we contemplate the sufferings of Jesus, He grants us, according to the measure of our faith, the grace to practice the virtues He revealed during those sacred hours." - St. Angela Merici45. "Let us all come together cheerfully; let us all receive him gladly, and hold our feast with all honesty. Instead of our garments, let us strew our hearts before Him, in psalms and hymns, let us raise to him our shouts of thanksgiving; and, without ceasing, let us exclaim, 'Blessed is he that that cometh in the name of the Lord.'" - Saint Methodius of Olympus

46. "Alleluia, how the people cheer and palm leaves rustle as the king draws near." - John Beavis

47. "Palm Sunday is like a glimpse of Easter. It's a little bit joyful after being somber during Lent." - Laura Gale

48. "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'" - Matthew 21:5

49. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17

50. "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!" - Psalm 31:24

Related: 80 Best Lent Quotes and Sayings for 2026

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50 Palm Sunday Quotes for Your Weekend-Before-Easter Celebration

50 Palm Sunday Quotes for Your WeekendBeforeEaster Celebration Traci RhoadesSun, March 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC 0 Palm S...

Celebrating 51 Years of &x27;Lady Marmalade&x27;: A Defining Hit of 1975 Andrea ReiherSun, March 29, 2026 at 12:19 PM UTC 0 (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) The bold, genreblending smash hit "Lady Marmalade" rose to No. 1 on March 29, 1975, giving Labelle their biggest success—and marking a defining moment in 1970s pop music. Released in late 1974, the song built momentum slowly before exploding into a crossover phenomenon.

Celebrating 51 Years of 'Lady Marmalade': A Defining Hit of 1975

Andrea ReiherSun, March 29, 2026 at 12:19 PM UTC

(ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

The bold, genre-blending smash hit "Lady Marmalade" rose to No. 1 on March 29, 1975, giving Labelle their biggest success—and marking a defining moment in 1970s pop music.

Released in late 1974, the song built momentum slowly before exploding into a crossover phenomenon. By early 1975, it had climbed all the way to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, while also dominating the R&B chart and gaining traction internationally.

According to "The Billboard Book of Number One Hits" author Fred Bronson, the song made history in a unique way: its writers replaced themselves at No. 1. "Lady Marmalade," written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, knocked another Crewe/Nolan composition, Frankie Valli's "My Eyes Adored You," out of the top spot—making Crewe and Nolan just the third songwriting team ever to achieve that rare feat.

The song itself came together in pieces. As Nolan explained, "I had one part of the song here and one part there, and it still needed something. Bob and I came up with the idea of 'Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir.' It was like a puzzle that finally fit together."

That final piece helped turn the track into something unforgettable. "Lady Marmalade" is equal parts theatrical, provocative and impossible to ignore.

Produced by Allen Toussaint and recorded with his New Orleans studio band, the song carried a distinctive groove rooted in funk and rhythm. It was released as the first single from Labelle's Nightbirds album and quickly found an audience in both discos and on radio.

Front and center was Patti LaBelle's powerhouse vocal, supported by Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, whose harmonies gave the track its layered intensity. The group's bold image—complete with futuristic, space-inspired fashion—only added to the song's impact as it climbed the charts.

The success of the single helped push Nightbirds past the million-sales mark and turned Labelle into one of the most talked-about acts of the era. While they wouldn't return to the top of the charts again, the moment remains their signature breakthrough.

More than five decades later, the song's legacy is still unmistakable—frequently covered, widely recognized and forever tied to one of the most electrifying chart-toppers of the 1970s.

This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Celebrating 51 Years of 'Lady Marmalade': A Defining Hit of 1975

Celebrating 51 Years of &x27;Lady Marmalade&x27;: A Defining Hit of 1975 Andrea ReiherSun, March 29, 2026 at 12:19...

Kylie Kelce Jokes She Has 'Underlying Anger' When Receiving 'Unsolicited' Parenting Advice Miranda SiwakSun, March 29, 2026 at 2:17 PM UTC 0 Courtesy of Kylie Kelce/ Instagram Kylie Kelce is getting brutally honest about dealing with "unsolicited mom advice" as a parent of four. "Like, when people see you out with your kid and they're, like, 'They should have a hat on.' I'm, like, 'You should mind your fing business,'" Kelce, 33, quipped on the Sunday, March 29, episode of the "Sunday Sports Club" podcast. "'She should have socks on.

Kylie Kelce Jokes She Has 'Underlying Anger' When Receiving 'Unsolicited' Parenting Advice

Miranda SiwakSun, March 29, 2026 at 2:17 PM UTC

Courtesy of Kylie Kelce/ Instagram

Kylie Kelce is getting brutally honest about dealing with "unsolicited mom advice" as a parent of four.

"Like, when people see you out with your kid and they're, like, 'They should have a hat on.' I'm, like, 'You should mind your f***ing business,'" Kelce, 33, quipped on the Sunday, March 29, episode of the "Sunday Sports Club" podcast. "'She should have socks on.' That's great, do you have any because the three pairs I brought with me, she already chucked, so you do with that what you will."

Kylie and husband Jason Kelce are parents of four daughters: Wyatt, 6, Ellie, 5, Bennett, 3, and Finnley, who turns 1 on Monday, March 30.

"Sometimes I just have this underlying anger when people want to give unsolicited advice," Kylie admitted to podcast host Allison Kuch, who is pregnant with her second baby. "The most comments that are unwelcome advice end up with me feeling, like, 'I could fix this really quick with a punch in the face.'"

Kylie Kelce Shares Advice to Moms of Multiple Kids: Don't 'Scroll Back'

Without resorting to threats of physical violence, Kylie does get tired hearing "advice that's not helpful" in her situation.

"It's the unproductive [comments about] the socks, the hats [and] 'they shouldn't be out in this weather,'" she said. "It's things like that where you're just, like, 'Actually, we're going from the car 10 steps into this Dunkin Donuts so I can get what Mom calls sanity juice a.k.a. a coffee. I need you to get so far away from me that you're actually in a different zip code.'"

Kylie also doesn't like hearing the "just wait comments," where another mom could tell her to expect better days down the line.

"The 'just wait' comments are really hard when you've been through that phase of motherhood and someone else is going through it," the field hockey coach stated. "Sometimes it's meant in a lighthearted way, but being a mom who has felt pretty much every phase of joy, the pitts, postpartum experience, there are times to make jokes with a mom. Sometimes you don't hit it, and I do my best to not do the 'just wait' in a negative way."

Why Kylie Kelce Speaks 'Positively' About Herself While Parenting — Even When She Doesn't 'Feel It'

Kylie continued, "I try to give people as much grace as I can muster up at the time."

Kylie and retired NFL star Jason, 37, have been married since 2017, often opening up about their lives as a growing family.

"We stay surrounded by family and friends, so we keep the people around us very close to us," Kylie exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2024 of raising "humble" kids. "Then, we make sure that anything that we're doing that they feel supported by their family and friends and then also not really putting them in any places of privilege."

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Kylie Kelce Jokes She Has ‘Underlying Anger’ When Receiving ‘Unsolicited’ Parenting Advice

Kylie Kelce Jokes She Has 'Underlying Anger' When Receiving 'Unsolicited' Parenting Advice Miranda Siwa...

This week on "Sunday Morning" (March 29) Jennifer EarlSun, March 29, 2026 at 2:51 PM UTC 0 (CBS News) The Emmy Awardwinning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. (Download it here.) Hosted by Jane Pauley.

This week on "Sunday Morning" (March 29)

Jennifer EarlSun, March 29, 2026 at 2:51 PM UTC

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The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. (Download it here.)

Hosted by Jane Pauley.

COVER STORY: Sister recounts relentless fight to free sibling held captive in Iraq for 903 days | Watch VideoPrinceton University doctoral student Elizabeth Tsurkov was held hostage in Iraq for 903 days, enduring torture and isolation after being kidnapped by an Iran-backed militia. Her sister, Emma, fought tirelessly for her release in September 2025, lobbying governments and taking bold actions to raise awareness. Erin Moriarty speaks with Emma and Elizabeth as she recovers from her captivity and looks ahead to resuming her research.

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ALMANAC: March 29 (Video)"Sunday Morning" looks back at historical events on this date.

ARTS: Meet the masked artist who conjured a concrete jungle of 20,000 orchids (Video)This year's Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden features a "concrete jungle" of nearly 20,000 orchids created by Instagram star Mr. Flower Fantastic. Anthony Mason takes us inside the immersive exhibit to meet the masked artist bringing iconic New York touches to his breathtaking floral arrangements.

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New York Botanical Garden Orchid ShowMr. Flower Fantastic

ON BROADWAY: Inside the glitzy reinvention of "Cats" on Broadway (Video)The Broadway classic "Cats" is getting a bold new twist. Mo Rocca pulls back the curtain on "Cats: The Jellicle Ball," a reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical through the lens of New York City's once underground ballroom scene - blending voguing, competition and high-energy choreography.

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Cats: The Jellicle BallZhailon Levingston (director)Bill Rauch (artistic director)

SUNDAY PROFILE: Olivia Munn shares her breast cancer journey | Watch VideoOlivia Munn is busier than ever, starring in the new series "Your Friends and Neighbors," raising two kids and juggling a packed career. But as Tracy Smith reports in our Sunday Profile, an unexpected diagnosis reshaped her life in ways she never imagined.

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Risk Assessment Calculator"Your Friends and Neighbors"

SUNDAY PASSAGE: In memoriam (Video)"Sunday Morning" remembers some of the notable figures who left us this week.

SPORTS: Michael Jordan on his drive to change NASCAR | Watch VideoMichael Jordan takes his "competitive gene" off the court and onto the NASCAR track as co-owner of 23XI Racing. Gayle King sits down with the basketball legend to talk about his passion for winning, his legal fight to change the sport, and how he channels his drive into new challenges..

COMMENTARY: Geoff Bennett (Video)Long before 1990s sitcoms, Black comedians were shaping American comedy in bold ways. Geoff Bennett, co-anchor of PBS NewsHour, explores this history and its lasting impact in his new book "Black Out Loud."

POLITICS: An interview with Rand Paul (Video)As chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Rand Paul is at the center of some of the country's most critical debates. He speaks with Robert Costa.

NATURE: Roseate spoonbills in Florida's wetlands (Video)This Sunday morning, we find ourselves among roseate spoonbills in Florida's Orlando Wetlands.

LIVE EVENT: Join us as Lee Cowan talks with David Pogue about his new book, "Apple: The First 50 Years," at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, Thurs., April 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for in-person or streaming access.

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In this marathon, CBS Sunday Morning explores all angles of the aging process — from the scientific to the cultural.

Searching for a fountain of youthWhat animals might teach us about living longerFasting and its possible role in longevityJim Gaffigan on aging "gracefully"Fighting back against ageismRedefining old ageJane Fonda with a secret of aging wellBrooke Shields speaks out on agingAARP and the business of an aging audience

The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Executive producer is Rand Morrison.

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"Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. (Download it here.)

Full episodes of "Sunday Morning" are now available to watch on demand on CBSNews.com, CBS.com and Paramount+, including via Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon FireTV/FireTV stick and Xbox.

You can also download the free "Sunday Morning" audio podcast at iTunes and at Play.it. Now you'll never miss the trumpet!

Do you have sun art you wish to share with us? Email your suns to SundayMorningSuns@cbsnews.com.

Iran may respond to U.S. peace proposal today, sources say

Tiger Woods released from jail after rollover crash, DUI arrest

Watch: "No Kings" protests, notable speeches

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This week on "Sunday Morning" (March 29) Jennifer EarlSun, March 29, 2026 at 2:51 PM UTC 0 (CBS News) The Emmy Awa...

Israeli police block Catholic figures from Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem&x27;s Holy Sepulchre Freddie ClaytonSun, March 29, 2026 at 2:31 PM UTC 0 Acting Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa leads a Christmas Midnight Mass at Saint Catherine's Church in the Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem, in Dec. 2025. (Mussa Qawasma / Pool / AFP via Getty Images file) (Mussa Qawasma) World leaders have voiced concern after Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday.

Israeli police block Catholic figures from Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre

Freddie ClaytonSun, March 29, 2026 at 2:31 PM UTC

Acting Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa leads a Christmas Midnight Mass at Saint Catherine's Church in the Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem, in Dec. 2025. (Mussa Qawasma / Pool / AFP via Getty Images file) (Mussa Qawasma)

World leaders have voiced concern after Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday.

Pizzaballa had attempted to travel to the church within Jerusalem's Old City with the Rev. Francesco Ielpo, the church's official guardian, to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

It said the two were stopped en route and compelled to turn back, marking "the first time in centuries" that Palm Sunday Mass could not be celebrated at the church, which is the holiest site in Christianity, where many believe Jesus was crucified.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that police had intervened to block Pizzaballa "out of special concern for his safety," claiming that "there was no malicious intent whatsoever."

The statement noted that all holy sites in the Old City, which is home to Christian, Muslim and Jewish sacred sites, were closed to worshippers when the war broke out with Iran in February.

"Iran has repeatedly targeted the holy sites of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles. In one strike, missile fragments crashed meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre," Netanyahu's office said.

"Freedom of worship will continue to be upheld, subject to necessary restrictions," Israeli police said in a statement.

A Palm Sunday service takes place at Monastery of Saint Saviour, in East Jerusalem, on Sunday. (Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu via Getty Images) (Mostafa Alkharouf)

The formal Palm Sunday procession, which usually draws thousands of Christians, was canceled last week in line with a ban on large gatherings imposed by Israel, with the Latin Patriarchate citing "restrictions imposed by the conflict."

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said the two men were "proceeding privately and without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act."

It said the incident sets "a grave precedent" and disregards "the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem."

In a statement Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed "solidarity" with Pizzaballa, Ielpo and others "whom Israeli authorities prevented today from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Holy Sepulchre."

"Denying entry to the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land, especially on a solemnity central to the faith such as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offense not only against believers but against every community that recognizes religious freedom," she added.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the decision of the Israeli police on X, which he said "joins a worrying series of violations of the status of the holy sites in Jerusalem."

A Palm Sunday service takes place at Monastery of Saint Saviour, in East Jerusalem, on Sunday. (Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu via Getty Images) (Mostafa Alkharouf)

Ahead of the incident, Pope Leo XIV had opened his Palm Sunday address at the Vatican by emphasizing that his prayers were "more than ever with the Christians of the Middle East." He reiterated the message in an X post after the incident, without addressing the event directly.

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said the incident was "unacceptable and offensive," while the country's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he would summon the ambassador of Israel to "obtain clarifications" on what occurred.

Steffen Seibert, Germany's ambassador to Israel, said on X that the incident was "painful to all Christians," while the vice president of the European Parliament, Pina Picierno, said the incident constituted "a grave, unprecedented, and unacceptable violation of religious freedom."

Following the outcry, Netanyahu's office said that authorities would put together "a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days" as the rest of Easter week is marked.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path.

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Israeli police block Catholic figures from Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre

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