It’s hard to know the exact figure but there must have been 50,000 people in and around St. Peter’s Square this Palm Sunday morning. The day was full of light as just a few white clouds passed through a blue heaven on their way somewhere else. For the people of God below, the sun shone brightly with enough warmth to make the day perfect.
We were outside for this Palm Sunday Mass. Benedict XVI was celebrant and cardinals, bishops and priests from throughout the world joined him.
I was up on the platform (for want of a better word) with the pope and the prelates as one of two hundred priests who were to distribute Holy Communion. Among my other thoughts was this: What am I doing up here with all these important people? Soon one of the Swiss Guards will come up to me, point his spear at me and ask me to go down to my proper place in the crowd.
The Holy Father in brilliant red vestments spoke of Palm Sunday as a new vista from which we should look to the two Jerusalems: the Holy City of God which some day will come down from heaven beautiful as a bride prepared for her husband; and the city of man where the kingdom is being planted now in our own day.
The Mass was nearly three hours long but semed much shorter. The music was touching, especially the tonalities used during the singing of the passion.
The pope looked spry and happy today. He spoke of the joy of being a Christian and referred to the Glory of Christmas when the angels sang of the glory of God. We should have that joy even now as we enter Holy Week, he said. The passion of Our Lord will lead to the joy of the Resurrection. We should console ourselves with this certainty.
Joy was clearly shown in the square today as the popemobile passed slowly through the crowds after the Mass. Today was a special celebration for youth. The young people from all over Europe waved their olive branches and palms and shouted “Viva Papa” while the pope himself smiled and waved enthusiastically.
I won’t soon forget Passion Sunday in St. Peter’s Square.
Photo: John Yake