Anticipation grew this past week related to how Holy Week celebrations would unfold, and an answer was given to the faithful on Palm Sunday.
The Pope did not preside over the celebration. He delegated the responsibility to another Argentinian, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, who delivered the homily as well.
CARD. LEONARDO SANDRI
Jesus’ passion becomes compassion whenever we hold out our hand to those who feel they cannot go on, when we lift up those who have fallen, when we embrace those who are discouraged
At the end of the celebration, just like last Sunday, the Pope appeared to give a greeting to the crowd.
POPE FRANCIS
Have a happy Palm Sunday. Have a good Holy Week.
The Vatican also distributed the text of that Sunday's Angelus. A published, but unspoken text in which Pope Francis asked for prayers for the victims of the incident in Santo Domingo and for peace in Sudan, Ukraine, the Holy Land, and other countries.
This was Pope Francis’ fifth appearance since being discharged from the hospital on March 23rd. All of them took place over the past week. The first was when the Pope appeared at the end of a liturgical celebration in St. Peter’s. The second was when Pope Francis received a visit from the British monarchs. The third was the most unexpected: he appeared in St. Peter’s Basilica wearing casual clothes instead of his usual papal dress. And the fourth appearance was the Saturday before Palm Sunday, when he went to pray at Saint Mary Major.
JRB
TR. CRT
