Carcassonne, France
An image of Lt Col Arnaud Beltrame attached to a bouquet of flowers outside the gendarmerie where he worked, two days after Radouane Lakdim carried out an attack in which Beltrame and three other people were killed
CLOSE More than 800 rallies took place around the world Saturday in solidarity with the 'March for Our Lives' rally in the United States. USA TODAY
Pope Francis is cheered by faithful after celebrating a Palm Sunday Mass, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 25, 2018 (Photo: Andrew Medichini, AP)
One day after the March for Our Lives drew more than a million people to rallies around the world, Pope Francis used a Palm Sunday sermon in Vatican City to mark World Youth Day and encourage young people to lead.
The pope urged youths to make sure their voices are heard.
"Dear young people, the joy that Jesus awakens in you is a source of anger and even irritation to some, since a joyful young person is hard to manipulate," Francis said. "The temptation to silence young people has always existed."
Francis warned that an effort would be made to make "invisible" or "anesthetize" young people who demand change.
"There are many ways to sedate them, to keep them from getting involved, to make their dreams flat and dreary, petty and plaintive," the pope said. "Dear young people, you have it in you to shout."
More: Thousands of students walked out and marched across the U.S. What's next?
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He quoted a Bible passage where Jesus responds to demands that he silence disciples decrying injustice: "If these were silent, the very stones would cry out."
Saturday's marches were held in every U.S. state and in scores of international cities demanding an end to gun violence. The rallies were the brainchild of a handful of student survivors from the shooting rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Seventeen students and staff were killed in the Feb. 14 shooting spree.
The student survivors have been demanding safer schools — and a ban on assault weapons similar to the gun police say suspect Nikolas Cruz, 19, a former student at the school, used in the Valentine's Day attack.
Several of the students spoke at the massive rally held in Washington, D.C. Senior Emma Gonzalez read the names of the victims who died at her school. She then stood quietly for several minutes before resuming her speech.
“Since the time that I came out here, it has been 6 minutes and 20 seconds,” Gonzalez said. “The shooter has ceased shooting, and will soon abandon his rifle, blend in with the students as they escape, and walk free for an hour before arrest. Fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job.”
In Rome, students rallied near the U.S. Embassy with signs that included "Protect People, not Guns."
"It is up to you not to keep quiet," the pope said in his sermon. "Even if others keep quiet, if we older people and leaders — so often corrupt — keep quiet, if the whole world keeps quiet and loses its joy, I ask you: Will you cry out?
"Please, make that choice before the stones themselves cry out."
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Holy Week begins this morning with the observance of Palm Sunday, when Christians carry palm branches to recall the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem before his crucifixion.
Here are five things to love about Palm Sunday:
The Palms
Commemorating Palm Sunday with palm branches goes back to the early Christian church. It remains a favorite among parishioners, who are handed palm branches as they enter the church at many services.
Palms were a symbol of royalty and nobility in Jesus' day. Those welcoming him to Jerusalem expected a messiah who might overthrow the Romans. The palm is a symbol of the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem just before his crucifixion, as crowds waved palm branches, sang ''Hosannah,'' and covered his path with the branches.
Jesus was later crucified by the Romans with crowds shouting approval, according to Gospel accounts.
Donkeys
Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. Unlike the Roman emperors, who rode horses and led military parades, Jesus rode in on a donkey in a statement of peace, humility and solidarity with the people.
Processions
Jesus led a procession into Jerusalem before his Crucifixion, so many Christians take part in processions to commemorate his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. At many churches, parishioners will carry palms in their outdoor processions.
Holy Week begins
Palm Sunday begins the most holy week on the Christian liturgical calendar, leading to Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples. Good Friday marks the day of the crucifixion. Catholics and Protestants will celebrate Easter this year on April 1. Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate a week later, on April 8.
The Gospel of Matthew
The story of Palm Sunday is told in the Gospel of Matthew, starting in Chapter 21.
Catholics today will have a reading of the Gospel of Matthew, from 26:14 to 27:66, which tells the Passion narrative.
The priest reads the words of Jesus, a narrator reads most of the texts, and the people in the pews read aloud the words of the crowd.
Pope Francis on Palm Sunday urged young people not to be silent and let their voices be heard, even in the face of corrupt or silent elders.
The pope's message comes on the heels of a meeting of young Catholics who told the Vatican they want a more transparent and authentic church, and a day after hundreds of thousands marched in youth-led rallies across the United States to demand greater gun control.
"The temptation to silence young people has always existed," Francis said. "There are many ways to silence young people and make them invisible. ... There are many ways to sedate them, to keep them from getting involved, to make their dreams flat and dreary, petty and plaintive. "
But he told youths in his homily that "you have it in you to shout," even if "we older people and leaders, very often corrupt, keep quiet."
As the Roman Catholic Church enters Holy Week, retracing the story of the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection three days later on Easter Sunday, Francis urged youth to join those who offer praise, and not the masses calling for crucifixion.
"Dear young people, the joy that Jesus awakens in you is a source of anger and irritation to some, since a joyful person is hard to manipulate," the pontiff said.
Some 300 youths meeting at the Vatican this week prepared a document for next October's synod of bishops at the Vatican focusing on to help youths better find their way in the church. The document, which was presented to Francis on Sunday, asked church leaders to address the unequal roles of women in the church and how technology is abused.
Before his traditional Sunday prayer at the end of Mass, the pope recalled the importance World Youth Day, marked this year on Palm Sunday at a diocesan level rather than as a big international gathering.
The pope's message also resonated with the Saturday protests across the United States for tougher laws to fight gun violence, a movement galvanized by the school shooting last month in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead.
At the end of Mass, the pope and cardinals in red robes led a solemn procession clutching elaborately braided palm fronds as they walked through the throngs, followed by the papal blessing of palm fronds and olive branches.
The processions recalls the bittersweet nature of Holy Week, with the faithful clutching simple palm fronds and olive branches to commemorate Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem only to be followed later by his death on a wooden cross.
The pope concluded by greeting the faithful in St. Peter's Square, getting out of the popemobile to shake hands as many cheered and took pictures.
