Pope Francis: With Christ we can transform ourselves and the world

(Vatican Radio) On a spring day in Rome, St Peter’s Square was full to capacity with people who had gathered for the celebration of Palm Sunday which marks the beginning of Holy Week. People of all ages waved palms and olive branches which this year had been donated by the Puglia of region of Italy and the Italian province of Savona.

As the choir sang the “Hosanna” a solemn procession saw Cardinals, priests, and ordinary men and women making their way around the Square in unison.

Pope Francis travelled in an opened topped Pope mobile to the Obelisk in the middle of the Square where he blessed palms and olives branches before walking in a procession to the specially constructed alter in front of St Peter’s Basilica.

The liturgy during the celebration recalled Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey and 3 deacons read the Gospel which recounts Christ’s Passion.

This was Pope Francis’ first Palm Sunday celebration as Pontiff and during his homily the Holy Father focused on three key words; Joy, the Cross and Youth.

The Pope said, on Jesus’ entry in Jerusalem he was received with great joy as people waved their palms and olive branches. He awakened great hopes, especially in the hearts of the simple, the humble, the poor, the forgotten, those who do not matter in the eyes of the world. The Pope went to say, “Do not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement! Ours is not a joy that comes from having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person: Jesus”…

Highlighting the word Cross, the Holy Father said, Jesus on the Cross feels the whole weight of evil, and with the force of God’s love he conquers it, he defeats it with his resurrection.

We can all conquer the evil that is in us and in the world: with Christ and he continued, “We must never grow accustomed to evil. With Christ we can transform ourselves and the world.”

As well as being Palm Sunday it was also diocesan World Youth Day which saw thousands of youth from the diocese of Rome and around the world taking parts in Sunday’s celebrations.

Focusing his attention on the word youth, Pope Francis spoke in a raised voice to the delight of the young present, telling them, With Christ, the heart never grows old!

You, he said, “have an important part in the celebration of faith. You bring us the joy of faith and you tell us that we must live the faith with a young heart, always, even at the age of seventy or eighty.” He also told the young people present that he was looking forward to World Youth Day in Brazil in a few months time.

Following Mass, and before reciting the Angelus prayer, the Pope continued on the theme of “youth” telling those gathered that he entrusted their path to Rio De Janeiro in July to Mary.

Pope Francis then made an extended turn around St Peter’s Square in the Pope mobile greeting the vast numbers of faithful in the first of the ceremonies marking the beginning of Holy Week.

Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report