Celebrations of Holy Week in Jerusalem — normally among the most vivid expressions of Christian faith — will be significantly reduced this year, as conflict in the region continues to disrupt public worship.
In a March 22 letter, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa confirmed that traditional gatherings at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other holy sites will not take place as usual. Restrictions and ongoing instability make large, open celebrations impossible, he said, leaving local Christians to navigate Holy Week in a more fragmented and uncertain way.
“The harshness of this time of war … bears the added burden of not being able to celebrate Easter together and with dignity,” the patriarch wrote. The absence of communal liturgies in the very places associated with Christ’s Passion marks a profound spiritual loss for both local faithful and pilgrims worldwide.
Among the most notable changes is the cancellation of the Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives into the Old City — a tradition that retraces Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. Instead, a smaller, as-yet-undetermined moment of prayer will take its place. The Chrism Mass, ordinarily a sign of unity among clergy, has also been postponed until conditions allow.
Churches in the diocese will remain open, and priests are encouraged to organize prayer and liturgical celebrations in whatever ways are safe and feasible. Still, the shift underscores how deeply the conflict has penetrated daily religious life, even at its most sacred moments.
Do not lose heart ...
Yet the patriarch’s message is not one of resignation. He calls for a renewed emphasis on prayer, particularly within families and small communities. Citing the Gospel of Luke — “Pray always and do not lose heart” — he invites the faithful to rediscover a quieter, more interior path through Holy Week.
To that end, Saturday, March 28 has been designated as a special day of prayer. Catholics are encouraged to recite the Rosary for peace, especially for those suffering directly from the violence. Though physically separated, believers are asked to unite spiritually, trusting in what Pizzaballa describes as “the strength of God’s love.”
His appeal echoes a long-standing Christian conviction: that prayer is a form of communion that transcends borders and crises. In times when public worship is curtailed, this hidden unity becomes more visible — and perhaps more urgent.
The letter closes with a reminder at the heart of the Easter message: that even war does not have the final word. “The empty tomb is the seal of the victory of life over hatred,” Cardinal Pizzaballa writes, urging Christians to hold fast to hope.
