Pope Benedict XVI presided over of Palm Sunday celebrations in St Peter’s Square before thousands of people who carried palms and olive branches as is tradition. On a spring day in Rome a solemn procession made up a Cardinals, Bishops and priests made its way around the square on this Sunday which marks the start of Holy Week.
As the choir sang the “Hosanna” Pope Benedict wearing in red vestments as is customary for Palm Sunday blessed the palms and the olive branches from the Pope mobile.
Palm Sunday also marks Passion Sunday and 3 deacons recounted Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem up until his death on the Cross.
In his Homily the Holy Father posed a question to those gathered, ” Who is Jesus of Nazareth for us?” He then went on to say, “What idea do we have of the Messiah, what idea do we have of God? It is a crucial question, one we cannot avoid, not least because during this very week we are called to follow our King who chooses the Cross as his throne. We are called to follow a Messiah who promises us, not an easy earthly happiness, but the happiness of heaven, divine beatitude. So, he said we must ask ourselves: what are our true expectations?
The Pope also explained that Palm Sunday offers us the invitation to adopt a proper outlook upon all humanity, on the peoples who make up the world, on its different cultures and civilizations.
As well as being Palm Sunday it is also diocesan World Youth Day and Pope Benedict made particular mention of young people in this Homily saying, ” Dear young people, present here today, this, in a particular way, is your Day, wherever the Church is present throughout the world. So I greet you with great affection! May Palm Sunday be a day of decision for you, the decision to say yes to the Lord and to follow him all the way, the decision to make his Passover, his death and resurrection, the very focus of your Christian lives. It is the decision that leads to true joy, as I reminded you in this year’s World Youth Day Message – “Rejoice in the Lord always”.