Pope Leo XIV opened Holy Week celebrations on Sunday morning with a prayer in St Peter's Square. Tens of thousands of worshippers packed the Vatican colonnades to attend the Holy Father's Mass. Many brought olive branches and palm fronds to be blessed during the celebration.
'Let us look to Jesus, who presents himself as the King of peace while war is being prepared all around him. He who stands firm in meekness while others are caught up in violence. He who offers himself as a caress for humanity, while others brandish swords and clubs. He who is the light of the world while darkness is about to cover the earth. He who came to bring life while the plan to condemn him to death is being carried out,' the Pontiff said as he celebrated Mass, in a clear reference to the wars currently under way.
