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Holy Week Tensions Rise as Israel Blocks Cardinal from Entering Sacred Jerusalem Site

  Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, holds a prayer service to mark Palm Sunday, following the cancellation of the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives, amid restrictions on gathering in large groups, in Jerusalem, March 29, 2026. Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, prompting widespread criticism from Christian leaders and governments worldwide. Authorities cited security concerns linked to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, noting that all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City had been temporarily closed due to the threat of missile strikes. The Latin Patriarchate condemned the move as an unprecedented disruption of centuries‑old tradition, marking the first time church leaders were unable to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass at the historic site. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later stated that the ...

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Canadian stocks edge higher as oil prices lift energy sector, U.S. markets soar to new highs

 

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 18.82 points, or 0.09 per cent, at 20,173.35 on Friday, as energy stocks gained 1.6 per cent on higher oil prices. The Canadian dollar traded for 79.69 cents US compared with 79.52 cents US on Thursday.

Meanwhile, U.S. markets rallied to record levels, boosted by strong earnings reports and economic data. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 448.23 points, or 1.3 per cent, to 35,061.55, the S&P 500 index added 48.73 points, or 1.1 per cent, to 4,411.79 and the Nasdaq composite increased 142.13 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 14,836.99.

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