Jerusalem's major holy sites, including the church, are closed because of the ongoing Iran war, as the city has come under frequent fire from Iranian missiles.
The Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem called the police decision "a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure".
It prevented two of the church's top religious leaders, including the Latin Patriarch, 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 which culminates in Easter.
Israeli police said they had notified church authorities 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.
Israeli police said they had notified church authorities on Saturday that no mass could take place on Palm Sunday because of safety considerations, the lack of access for emergency vehicles inalleys of the Old City and lack of adequate shelter.
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 cancelled the traditional processional last week because of safety concerns.
The church's closure has sparked a wave of criticism that Israeli authorities had gone too far in restricting worship.
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said the incident was "an unfortunate overreach" that was hard to justify.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the incident.
"The free exercise of worship in Jerusalem must be guaranteed for all religions," Macron wrote on X.
Italian authorities across the political spectrum condemned the move to restrict Pizzaballa, an Italian cardinal considered a leading papal contender in the 2025 conclave, to access the church.
The Italian government formally protested the incident to Israeli authorities and summoned Israel's ambassador to Rome for clarification.
Premier Giorgia Meloni said that the police action "constitutes an offence not only against believers but against every community that recognises religious freedom".
Meloni's conservative government tried to keep a balanced position with Israel during the war in Gaza, supporting Israel's right to defence 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.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 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.
