Pope Leo XIV Honors Pope Francis with Palm Sunday Opening Holy Week

Pope Leo XIV led Palm Sunday rites before tens of thousands in St. Peter’s Square. He opened his first Holy Week as pontiff while many recalled Pope Francis’ final days.

Palm Sunday ceremony

The celebration began with a long procession of cardinals, bishops, priests and laypeople. Participants carried olive branches and palm fronds, some braided and ornate.

The procession paused at the central obelisk. Leo delivered an opening prayer there before moving toward the altar to begin Mass.

Tribute to Pope Francis

Many attendees connected the Mass to the memory of Pope Francis. Last year Francis had been recovering from a five-week hospital stay for double pneumonia.

He had delegated liturgies as he recovered but returned to greet the faithful from the basilica loggia on Easter Sunday. He later made a final popemobile circuit of the piazza and died the following morning after suffering a stroke.

Nurse Massimiliano Strappetti reported Francis told him he appreciated being brought back to the square for that last public salute.

Rituals and changes

Pope Leo XIV is restoring the Holy Thursday feet-washing ceremony to tradition. The rite will return to the basilica of St. John Lateran.

During his 12-year pontificate, Francis had often held the ritual in prisons and refugee centers. He washed the feet of people on society’s margins, including Muslims and followers of other faiths.

Holy Week schedule

• Holy Thursday: feet-wash ceremony at St. John Lateran. Vatican has not named participants.
• Good Friday: Leo will preside over the Passion procession at the Colosseum.
• Saturday: the Easter Vigil where he will baptize new Catholics.
• Easter Sunday: Mass in St. Peter’s Square and the traditional blessing from the basilica loggia.

Leo, the first U.S.-born pope in history, will personally preside over these liturgical events. His leadership marks a return to several longstanding Vatican traditions.

Filmogaz.com provided this coverage of Pope Leo XIV’s Palm Sunday and the opening of Holy Week.