{UAH} An estimated 200,000 at Papal Palm Sunday Mass in Rome!

Palm Sunday was very enthusiastically honoured and celebrated worldwide.

In Rome the weather was fairly good and by the time the ceremonies started a good

100,000-strong crowd had already packed St Peter's Square, with a lot of empty space

still at hand for the late comers. By the time Mass ended an,d the Pope gavbe his blessing

and moved in tghe Popemobile among the crowds, an estimated 200,000 persons were already

numbered in the Square.

Usually Palm Sunday ceremonies begin in the centre of the Square, at the Obelisk, from where the

procession of cardinals, bishops and senior ecclesiastics march in procession with their palms and

move to their places near the altar just infront of the Basilica  And the Pope begins Mass. There were two

readings, one from Prophet Isaiah and another from St Paul to the Corinthians. Then there came the lengthy

gospel according to St Mark narrating the passion of Christ. After which the Pope delivered his sermon which

he axed on those being persecuted for their religious beliefs as the model of the new martyrs the world should

follow in order to sympathize with Christ's suffering, a passion which he willingly undertook in order to show obedience

to his Father.

Hundreds of priests and deacons were mobilized to distribute Holy Communion to the vast assembly that included

churchmen, diplomats, Italian Govenment officials, Italian MPs, and thousands of tourists already in Rome for the

Holy Week ceremonies and the closing Easter Mass that will draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

After Mass, before reciting the Angelus prayer and giving his blessing, the Pope hinted on his visit to Cracow (Poland)

for the World Youth Day festivities. He expressed deep sorrow to the relatives who had lost their loved ones in the recent

Germanwings air clash and promised to pray for them and for the deceased.

After the Angelus he greeted the Chuirch and state dignitaries present and went on his popemobile to salute the crowds.

Holy Week is now in full gear and the ceremonies will be heavily attended. Formerly it was a bit hard to find the 12 volunteers

for Holy Thursday's ceremony of washing the feet in remembrace of Christ's humble action to the 12 Apostles whose feet He

washed on that holy day. Now in most places over here volunteers are more than present! This has been the trend since the

arrival of Pope Francis whose action is just simply admired!

His Wednesday public general audiences have retaken to rhythms and the crowds are again swelling to record levels! Last Wednesday

25/03/2015 he seized the occasion before te,ns of thousands of pilgrims to call for prayers for the forthcoming Synod of bishops on the Family.

Then he took the opportuninity to remind the Spanish speaking pilgrims of the Church's need for prayer and not for gossiping!

Turning to the Italians he affirmed the right to employment as being in line with true justice. And resolutely pointed out that we all

had the duty to join the struggle for employment!!! This message was received with deafening cheers and thunderous applauses!!!

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo ( Paris / France )