Air raid sirens interrupted the celebration of the Solemnity of the Annunciation on March 25 in Nazareth, as Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa presided over Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation.
The cardinal was celebrating Mass on the feast celebrating that the Word became Flesh in the womb of Mary in the very spot that Tradition holds this mystery took place.
The sirens sounded during the homily, as part of wider alerts linked to ongoing regional tensions between Israel and Iran. The liturgy was briefly paused. According to witnesses, neither the celebrant nor the congregation left the basilica.
Cardinal Pizzaballa stopped speaking momentarily as the alarm continued. An Arabic translation of his previous remarks was completed while the sirens were still audible. After the alert ended, the cardinal resumed the homily without further interruption.
See images from the Mass here:
The incident occurred during one of the most significant feasts in the Christian calendar, marking the announcement of the Incarnation. Nazareth, the site traditionally associated with this event, is home to a substantial Arab Christian population.
Local conditions in northern Israel have included repeated security alerts in recent weeks. Civil defense systems require residents to remain attentive to sirens indicating potential incoming threats. In some cases, public gatherings have been disrupted.
Church authorities have not reported injuries or damage linked to the incident at the basilica.
In his homily, delivered in part before the interruption, Cardinal Pizzaballa referred to the historical and present-day difficulties faced in the region. After the pause, he continued the liturgy as scheduled.
The Mass concluded without further incident.
