Vatican City, Apr 6, 2009 / 15:06 pm
Yesterday people from around the world descended upon St. Peter’s Square to celebrate Palm Sunday with Pope Benedict XVI, who emphasized in his homily that “denial” and “self sacrifice” are the way to lead to a “just life.”
Benedict XVI celebrated Mass at St. Peter’s Square for tens of thousands of pilgrims, including a large delegation of 7,000 young people from the Archdiocese of Madrid, Spain, the site of the next Word Youth Day in 2011.
As is tradition, Benedict XVI blessed the palms and olive branches before Mass began and then led the procession to the altar.
Benedict’s homily focused on the sacrifice of the cross and how it proves "the fundamental law of human existence: 'Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.'”