Francesco Ielpo

Francesco Ielpo is an Italian Catholic priest who serves as the Custode of the Holy Land, a position that oversees the care of Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. He was recently at the center of a controversy with Israel's police over access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where he and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem were barred from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass due to security concerns. The incident sparked international criticism and led to the Israeli prime minister's announcement that Ielpo would have 'full and immediate access' to the church. This development highlights the ongoing tensions between Israel and the Catholic Church over issues of access and control at holy sites in Jerusalem.