Before Pope Leo XIV led the faithful in the midday Angelus, he offered brief greetings at the conclusion of the Palm Sunday Mass.
He asked for prayers for the faithful of the Holy Land, noting "in many cases, [they] are unable to observe fully the liturgies of these holy days."
In fact, this morning, the cardinal and custos of the Holy Land, the two senior officials of the Church there, were turned away from Palm Sunday Mass by Israeli police. Though the traditional procession had already been canceled days ago, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Franciscan Fr. Francesco Ielpo were prevented from going to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The Pope also noted the maritime workers who are victims of the war. "Land, sky, and sea were all created for life and peace!" he said.
At the same time, he prayed for migrants who have died at sea, "especially those who recently lost their lives off the coast of Crete." Last Friday, the European agency Frontex rescued a boat that had set sail from Libya for Europe and had been adrift for six days. While 26 passengers were rescued, 22 others died of exhaustion.
Here is the full translation of his brief remarks:
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Dear brothers and sisters,
At the beginning of Holy Week, our prayers are more than ever with the Christians of the Middle East, who are suffering the consequences of a brutal conflict and, in many cases, are unable to observe fully the liturgies of these holy days. Just as the Church contemplates the mystery of the Lord’s Passion, we cannot forget those who today are truly sharing in his suffering. Their ordeal challenges all our consciences. Let us raise our prayer to the Prince of Peace that he may sustain the peoples wounded by war and open concrete paths to reconciliation and peace.
I also wish to entrust to the Lord the maritime workers who have fallen victim to the conflict. I pray for the deceased, the wounded and their families. Land, sky and sea were all created for life and peace!
Let us also pray for all the migrants who have died at sea, especially those who lost their lives in recent days off the coast of Crete.
I greet and thank all of you – both Romans and pilgrims – who have taken part in this liturgy! Together, let us now turn to the Virgin Mary, entrusting all our prayers to her intercession. May she guide us during these holy days, so that we may follow Jesus, our Savior, with faith and love.
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Below is the text of the Pope's homily and a gallery of images from the Mass:
