ROME — Thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square as Pope Leo XIV marked his first Palm Sunday as head of the Catholic Church, launching Holy Week observances that stirred memories of his predecessor’s last days.
The ceremony commenced with a colorful parade of church officials and faithful carrying olive branches and elaborately woven palm fronds into the square. The procession paused at the towering obelisk where Leo offered an opening prayer before continuing to the altar for Mass.
The Palm Sunday observance commemorates Christ’s celebrated arrival in Jerusalem before his death by crucifixion on Good Friday and his rising from the dead on Easter.
Last year’s Holy Week began while Francis was still healing at the Vatican following a lengthy five-week hospitalization for severe pneumonia affecting both lungs. Though he had assigned the religious ceremonies to other clergy members, Francis managed to appear on Easter Sunday to acknowledge worshippers from St. Peter’s balcony. In what would become his farewell gesture, he took one last ride through the plaza in the popemobile.
Francis passed away the next day, Easter Monday, after experiencing a stroke. His caregiver, Massimiliano Strappetti, later shared with Vatican Media that Francis had expressed gratitude, saying: “Thank you for bringing me back to the square” for his final public appearance.
Leo plans to lead this week’s religious services and will restore the traditional Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony at St. John Lateran basilica, which honors Jesus’ final meal with his apostles.
Throughout his 12-year papacy, Francis transformed the Holy Thursday ritual by visiting Roman jails and migrant facilities to wash the feet of society’s most vulnerable members. This approach emphasized the ceremony’s themes of humble service, and Francis often reflected in his sermons, asking “Why them and not me?”
Francis’ approach won acclaim as a concrete demonstration of his conviction that the church should reach out to marginalized communities seeking God’s compassion and forgiveness. However, some traditionalists objected to these annual excursions, particularly when Francis included Muslims and members of other religions in the ceremony.
Leo, who made history as the first American-born pope, will bring the Holy Thursday foot-washing back to St. John Lateran basilica, where pontiffs conducted it for many years. Vatican officials have not announced the participants, though previous popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II typically included 12 clergy members.
This Friday, Leo will lead the Good Friday procession at Rome’s ancient Colosseum, honoring Christ’s suffering and death. Saturday evening brings the Easter Vigil service, where Leo will baptize new Catholics, followed by Easter Sunday Mass celebrating Jesus’ resurrection.
Leo will conduct Easter Sunday worship in St. Peter’s Square before delivering his Easter message from the basilica’s balcony.
