Processions mark Palm Sunday, Pope prays for Germanwings victims

Palm Sunday processions were today held around Malta, with Archbishop Charles Scicluna celebrating mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

Palm Sunday, which falls on the Sunday before Easter, commemorates the entry of Jesus Chris in Jerusalem, before his crucifixion. According to tradition, the event includes a procession of worshipers carrying palms to represent the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus, as well as olive branches as symbols of peace.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna blessed palms and olive leaves at St Catherine of Italy Church before celebrating mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral. Processions were also held in Valletta and around Malta.

In his solemn in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Pope Francis prayed for the 150 people that died in Tuesday’s Germanwings crash in the French Alps, noting there was a group of German schoolchildren on board. The Pope also paid tribute to those who ignore their needs to save others and hailed those Christians who endure discrimination and even prosecution for their faith.