Palm Sunday

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Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, gives the final blessing with the relic of the holy cross at the end of the Palm Sunday procession from Bethphage to Jerusalem on March 24, 2024.

PHOTOS: Palm Sunday procession in Holy Land celebrates ‘joy in being Christians’

Mar 25, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, led the procession, which departed from Bethphage on the eastern side of... Read more

A priest holds palms on Palm Sunday.

The most popular questions about Palm Sunday — and their answers

Mar 24, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Here is a list of the most popular questions about Palm Sunday and their answers. Read more

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Where do Ash Wednesday ashes come from?

Feb 21, 2023

By Mary Farrow

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Read more

A Christian family in Qaraqosh sporting their traditional dressing for Holy Week in April 2022.

Joyful Iraqi Christians return to Nineveh Plains to celebrate Holy Week

Apr 11, 2022

By Bashar Jameel Hanna

An estimated 25,000 Iraqi Christians gathered for a joyous Palm Sunday reunion after years of war and displacement. Read more

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PHOTOS: Catholics around the world celebrate Palm Sunday 2022

Apr 11, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The festive day is traditionally marked by a blessing of palm branches. Read more

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, pictured Sept. 26, 2016.

Indonesian president condemns Palm Sunday bombing at Catholic cathedral

Mar 28, 2021

Indonesian President Joko Widodo condemned a bomb attack at a Catholic cathedral after a Palm Sunday Mass that killed two... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica March 28, 2021.

At Angelus, Pope Francis prays for Indonesian Catholics injured in Palm Sunday bombing

Mar 28, 2021

At the Angelus, Pope Francis prayed for Indonesian Catholics injured in a bombing as they left a Palm Sunday Mass. Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 28, 2021.

Full text: Pope Francis’ 2021 Palm Sunday homily

Mar 28, 2021

Here is the full text of Pope Francis’ Palm Sunday homily, delivered March 28 at St. Peter’s Basilica Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 28, 2021

Pope Francis on Palm Sunday: Lift your eyes to the cross in Holy Week

Mar 28, 2021

Pope Francis urged Catholics to focus on the cross during Holy Week as he celebrated Mass on Palm Sunday. Read more

An Indonesian policeman stands guard outside a church after an explosion in Makassar on March 28, 2021.

Palm Sunday bombing at cathedral in Indonesia injures Catholics leaving Mass

Mar 28, 2021

A suspected suicide bomb attack has targeted Catholics leaving a cathedral after Palm Sunday Mass on the Indonesian island of... Read more

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa blesses the city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

Jerusalem archbishop blesses city with True Cross relic

Apr 6, 2020

Unable to lead the traditional Palm Sunday procession through Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa blessed the city with a relic of the... Read more

Pope Francis prays during Palm Sunday Mass April 5, 2020.

Pope Francis on Palm Sunday: Let us stand before the crucifix in our homes

Apr 5, 2020

By Courtney Mares

On Palm Sunday, Pope Francis offered Mass in a nearly empty St. Peter’s Basilica and urged Catholics quarantined at home... Read more

Palm cross.

Palm supplier sees business halved by coronavirus cancelations

Apr 3, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

Thomas Sowell and his wife own Southeast Palm and Foliage in Astor, Florida, in the middle of the state, about... Read more

Hand holding small pine branch.

Maine priest encourages 'Pine Sunday' where there are no palms

Mar 31, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

With public Masses cancelled across the United States, ahead of Palm Sunday this weekend, some Maine Catholics are being encouraged... Read more

Pope Francis' procession through the crowds bearing palms in St. Peter's Sqaure on Palm Sunday 2019.

Pope Francis on Palm Sunday: True triumph is found in Christ’s humility

Apr 14, 2019

By Courtney Mares

On Palm Sunday, Pope Francis warned against the temptation of “triumphalism,” encouraging Catholics to follow Jesus’s way of humility and... Read more

Palm crosses.

This Sunday, where will the millions of palms come from?

Apr 13, 2019

By Adelaide Mena

With the arrival of Palm Sunday, Catholics across the globe will soon be handed spiky leaves as they walk into... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square March 25, 2018.

Nothing can stifle the joy of the Gospel, Pope says on Palm Sunday

Mar 25, 2018

By Elise Harris

Jesus was the first target of “fake news” spread by those who wanted spin and twist his message for their... Read more

Pope Francis blesses palms during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square April 9, 2017.

This Holy Week, look for Jesus in those who suffer, Pope says

Apr 9, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Palm Sunday Pope Francis said that as Holy Week begins, we should contemplate not only the glory with which... Read more

Pope Francis leads procession of palms in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday March 20, 2016.

Humility is the epitome of redemption, Pope Francis says on Palm Sunday

Mar 20, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Palm Sunday Pope Francis said the path toward salvation can be summed up by humility and service, and encouraged... Read more

The Passion.

All-star 'Passion' musical aims to tell the Gospel story in a new key

Mar 18, 2016

By Kevin J. Jones

Actor and singer Jencarlos Canela will play the role of Jesus in a live musical dramatization of The Passion on... Read more