Israel blocks cardinal from entering one of Christianity's holiest sites 'for first time in centuries'

Israeli authorities have prevented a top Vatican cardinal in Jerusalem from entering one of Christianity s holiest sites for the first time in centuries. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who leads the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was turned away from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre alongside Father Francesco Ielpo, the head of the Franciscan priory overseeing the holy sites, while trying to enter for a Palm Sunday mass. Church officials described Sunday s events as an unprecedented