Pope Francis denounces ‘folly of warfare’ in Palm Sunday homily

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VATICAN CITY — Celebrating Palm Sunday Mass earlier than crowds in St. Peter’s Sq. for the primary time for the reason that pandemic, Pope Francis stated that the “folly of warfare” leads folks to commit “mindless acts of cruelty.”

Francis didn’t explicitly cite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, however the reference was clear and he has repeatedly denounced the warfare and the struggling delivered to harmless folks.

Throughout his Palm Sunday homily, the pontiff stated: “Once we resort to violence … we lose sight of why we’re on the planet and even find yourself committing mindless acts of cruelty. We see this within the folly of warfare, the place Christ is crucified one more time.”

Francis lamented “the unjust loss of life” of husbands and sons, refugees fleeing bombs, younger folks disadvantaged of a future and “troopers despatched to kill their brothers and sisters.”

After two years of celebrating Palm Sunday Mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica and not using a crowd as a consequence of pandemic distancing measures, the solemn celebration returned to the sq. exterior. Tens of hundreds pilgrims and vacationers clutched olive branches and braided palms emblematic of the ceremony that recollects Jesus’ return to Jerusalem.

Historically, the pope leads a Palm Sunday procession by St. Peter’s Sq. earlier than celebrating Mass. Francis has been affected by a strained ligament in his proper knee that has brought on him to limp, and he was pushed in a black automotive to the altar, which he then reached leaning on an aide.

Palm Sunday opens Holy Week main as much as Easter, which this 12 months falls on April 17, and options the Good Friday Means of the Cross Procession.

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Posted

April 10, 2022