Palm Sunday, aka Papal Mass III

Palms (olive branches) getting blessed

Palm Sunday with Pope Francis was an amazing experience. It was an absolutely beautiful day, although it was kinda hot, and everyone was so excited to start Holy Week in Rome.

It was a beautiful mass that started at the obelisk in the square, which was decorated with tons of flowers, blossoming trees, and olive trees planted in the square, who knew.

The new pope focused much of his prayer and invocations on Mary, even spending some time at her statue during the Mas.

He had a beautiful homily and talked about this summer's World Youth Day in Rio. Here are some of my favorite parts of the homily:

"Never be sad men and women: a Christian can never be! Never give in to discouragement! Ours is not a joy that arises from possessing many things, rather it comes from having met a Person: Jesus, who is among us; it comes from knowing that with him we are never alone, even in difficult moments, even when the journey of life collides with problems and obstacles that seem insurmountable, and there are many!"

"Dear young people, I saw you in the procession, when you came in; I imagine you celebrating around Jesus, shaking the olive branches; I imagine you as you shout his name and express your joy at being with him! You have an important part in the feast of faith! You bring us the joy of faith and you tell us that we must live the faith with a young heart, always, a young heart even at 70 or 80! Young heart! With Christ the heart never grows old!" -- Pope Francis

He even tried to speak a few words in English during his blessing. Bless him, he's so cute.

Papa Francesco

As he left the square on the "Papa Mobile," or Pope Mobile as we English speakers like to call it, he took time to kiss what seemed like an innumerable amount of children, then he got out of the car and went to the barricades to shake hands and kiss people on the cheeks. What a guy.