Pope Leo XIV at Palm Sunday Mass says "Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love!" FULL TEXT Homily

Pope Leo XIV on Palm Sunday presides during the long celebration commemorating the Lord's Passion, which began at the obelisk in St. Peter's Square with the commemoration of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the blessing of olive and palm branches. Before the Mass begins, a moving procession from the Arm of Constantine in Bernini's Colonnade reaches the center of the square, encircling it. After the reading of the Gospel passage from Matthew about Jesus being praised in the Holy City, it continues toward the parvis of the Vatican Basilica. Remembering the crowd that acclaimed Christ, faithful and celebrants carry "fenix palms"—120 in all donated by the Neocatechumenal Way—and the traditional palmurelli (small palms)—from Sanremo and blessed last Tuesday in the Cathedral of San Siro—as well as 120,000 olive branches, brought from Umbria and provided by the National Association of Cities of Oil, with delegations attending the liturgy. And in the parvis, where the red of the liturgical vestments stands out, two large decorations reproduce the symbol of this Sunday. Joining the Pontiff at the altar are Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re and Leonardo Sandri, respectively dean and vice-dean of the College of Cardinals.

PALM SUNDAY: PASSION OF THE LORD –COMMEMORATION OF THE LORD’S ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM AND HOLY PAPAL MASS
FULL TEXT HOMILY OF POPE LEO XIV
St Peter's Square on Sunday, 29 March 2026
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Dear brothers and sisters,

As Jesus walks the Way of the Cross, we place ourselves behind him, following in his footsteps. As we walk with him, we contemplate his passion for the sake of humanity, his broken heart, and his life as a gift of love.

We turn our gaze to Jesus, who reveals himself as King of Peace, even as war looms abounds him. He remains steadfast in meekness, while others are stirring up violence. He offers himself to embrace humanity, even as others raise swords and clubs. He is the light of the world, though darkness is about to engulf the earth. He came to bring life, even as plans unfold to condemn him to death.

King of Peace. Jesus’ desire is to bring the world into the Father’s arms, tearing down every barrier that separates us from God and from our neighbor, for “He is our peace” (Eph 2:14).

King of Peace. Jesus enters into Jerusalem not upon a horse, but upon a donkey, fulfilling the ancient prophecy that calls for rejoicing at the arrival of the Messiah: “Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations” (Zech 9:9–10).

King of Peace. When one of his disciples drew his sword to defend him and struck the high priest’s servant, Jesus immediately stopped him, saying: “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Mt 26:52).

King of Peace. While he was burdened with our sufferings and pierced for our sins, Jesus “did not open his mouth, like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent” (Is 53:7). He did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war. He revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence. Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history.

Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood” (Is 1:15).

As we set our gaze upon him who was crucified for us, we can see a crucified humanity. In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today. In his last cry to the Father, we hear the weeping of those who are crushed, who have no hope, who are sick and who are alone. Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war.

Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters!

In the words of the Servant of God, Bishop Tonino Bello, I would like to entrust this cry to Mary Most Holy, who stands beneath the cross of her Son and weeps also at the feet of those who are crucified today:

“Holy Mary, woman of the third day, grant us the certainty that, in spite of all, death will no longer hold sway over us; that the injustices of peoples are numbered; that the flashes of war are fading into the twilight; that the sufferings of the poor are breathing their last. And grant, finally, that the tears of all the victims of violence and pain will soon be dried up like frost beneath the spring sun” (Maria, donna dei nostri giorni).