Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday Mass in front of 25,000 believers

Francis wore a white cloak over which he had placed the red stole for the blessing liturgy. The pilgrims gathered in Rome waved olive branches in greeting. These remind us of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.

A procession of around 100 young people, bishops and cardinals marched from St. Peter’s Square to the altar in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica is decorated with flowers. Thousands of chairs were set up for visitors in the days before the celebration.

Pope didn’t give a sermon because of hoarseness

During the Mass, Francis refrained from giving the sermon because of his hoarseness. In the past few days he had not been able to speak his texts himself because of bronchitis; they were read out by employees.

Around 1.7 billion Catholic and Protestant Christians around the world begin “Holy Week”, the highlight of the church year, on Palm Sunday. On the Sunday before Easter, palm branches are traditionally carried in the church procession, blessed with holy water and then placed behind crucifixes in the houses. The Palm Sunday liturgy commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and marks the beginning of the liturgy for Holy Week.

Because of his health, it is still unclear whether the 87-year-old Francis will take part in the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum. Last year he decided not to attend the ceremony because the weather was too cold. Milder weather is forecast for next week and the date has been confirmed for now.

The Pope is scheduled to celebrate mass on Maundy Thursday in the Rebibbia women’s prison in Rome. The Mass on Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum, the three days on which Christians commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. According to tradition, the Pope washes the feet of prison inmates. Washing the feet goes back to a gesture made by Jesus Christ to his disciples at the Last Supper and is a sign of humility and solidarity.