Vatican City, Mar 20, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Following yesterday’s Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II made a surprise appearance at the window of his study to wild cheers from those gathered below.
An estimated 50,000 faithful--many of them young people present for a pre-World Youth Day celebration--were gathered in the square.
The Pope blessed the crowd with an olive branch before Archbishop Leonardo Sandri read the papal reflections that preceded the Angelus prayer.
"Twenty years ago," the Holy Father’s message said, "right here in St. Peter's Square, World Youth Days began. Thus, today I am addressing young people in a special way. You, dear ones, gathered here in the square, and the youth throughout the world.”