Vatican City, Apr 17, 2011 / 09:16 am
“Happy Birthday Holy Father!” That was the rousing chorus serenading Pope Benedict XVI April 17 as he concluded this year’s Palm Sunday ceremonies in St Peters Square. The Pope, who turned 84 Saturday, had earlier used his Sunday sermon to warn the world that advances in technology won’t necessarily save mankind from future catastrophes.
“With the increase of our abilities there has been an increase not only of good. Our possibilities for evil have increased and appear like menacing storms above history,” he said. “Our limitations have also remained: we need but think of the disasters which have caused so much suffering for humanity in recent months.”
The Palm Sunday service recalls the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago. In imitation of those events, today’s papal ceremonies began with a solemn procession of bishops, cardinals and the Holy Father himself carrying palm leaves. This is how the Jerusalem crowd welcomed Jesus himself.
Over 50,000 pilgrims basking beneath the Roman sun joined the churchmen in waving palms.