A hard Situation in Jerusalem

Hierarch said that the Basilica of the Lord's Sepulchre inactive remains closed, and for the Israeli authorities the fall of a fragment of the bullet is simply a justification for this decision, due to the fact that there is inactive a hazard of being hit by further shrapnel or fragments of weapons. "They will most likely let us to celebrate the Holy Week inside, but in a tiny number," he said, speaking of the liturgy of the Passover Triduum. He added that it seems that this year there will be no Mass on Palm Sunday, nor will there be a procession with palm trees due to the prohibition of the assembly.

Bishop Shomali added that on Palm Sunday card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa will pray in the chapel of Dominus Flevit (Lord cried). It is simply a Franciscan church on Mount Olives, commemorating the event described in the Gospel according to St Luke, erstwhile Jesus cried over the destiny of Jerusalem. "There the patriarch will pray with a tiny number of priests and monks and bless the city," said Bishop Shomali. “This is 1 of the best places to contemplate Jerusalem,” he added, stressing that there is simply a view of the full old part and a fragment of the newer districts of the city.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem stressed the complex situation in the region and encouraged prayer in the intention of peace and wisdom for politicians, “to make the right decision and to end the war, which is victims of many innocent people as shortly as possible”.