He spoke at the end of a Palm Sunday service for about 50,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, the first time since 2019 that the public was allowed to attend after two years of reduced services due to Covid restrictions. “Down with the weapons! Let an Easter truce begin. “But not to re-equip and start the battle again, but a truce to achieve peace through real negotiations, open to some sacrifices for the good of the people,” the pope said. “In fact, what kind of victory would it be to plant a flag in a pile of rubble?” An outbreak of pain in his knee forced the 85-year-old Pope to miss the traditional procession from the obelisk in the center of the square to the altar on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica. Instead, he watched sitting on the altar and limping as he said the Liturgy. In his sermon he caused the horror of war, speaking of “mothers mourning the unjust death of their husbands and sons; refugees fleeing bombs with children in their arms; young people deprived of the future; soldiers sent to kill their brothers and sisters.” . Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the pope has specifically mentioned Russia only in prayer, such as during a special world peace event on March 25. But he referred to Russia using terms such as “invasion” and “aggression.” Moscow describes the operation, which began on February 24, as a “special military operation.” The Pope rejected this terminology, calling it war. Some people in the crowd put small Ukrainian flags on the edge of their olive branches and a woman who recited one of the prayers near the altar was dressed in blue and yellow. Palm Sunday celebrates the day the gospel says that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and was greeted by the people, to be crucified five days later. It marks the beginning of Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday at the Roman Catholic Church on April 17 this year. His numerous events will test the Pope’s endurance. Ukraine is predominantly Orthodox. Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter a week later, on April 24. At the end of the service, the pope was led around the crowd while sitting in a light white “popemobile”.
