Today's Edition
(DPA)
Pope Leo XIV began his first pre-Easter week as pontiff by holding the traditional Palm Sunday Mass in front of a congregation of tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square.
The ceremony marks the start of the Holy Week before Easter Sunday, when 1.4 billion Catholic Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
This is Leo XIV's first Easter since his election as Pope last May. His predecessor, Pope Francis last year left the liturgical celebrations to others following a five-week hospital stay due to severe pneumonia, although he appeared before the faithful on the loggia of St Peter's Basilica on Easter Sunday. He died the following day of a stroke at the age of 88.
The week is a full one for Pope Leo, who will hold a service on Maundy Thursday at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, followed by the traditional foot-washing ceremony.
On Good Friday, Leo XIV is due to join the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum. He is due to celebrate the Easter Vigil late on Holy Saturday evening in St Peter's Basilica.
The highlight of the Easter celebrations will be the grand festive Mass on Easter Sunday, followed by the traditional blessing, to the city and the world, from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica. The event will be viewed by tens of thousands of people and also broadcast worldwide.
