The procession of the palms in Jerusalem is one of the most picturesque moments which brings together the whole Christian community of the Holy Land. On Sunday 13 April,  a long winding procession of palms raised to the sky came down from the Mount of Olives, following the same steps as Jesus when he entered Jerusalem.

After having gathered around the Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, for the celebration of Palm Sunday at the Holy Sepulchre, the Christians of the Holy Land bore witness to their faith in Jesus along the streets of the Holy City: “You are the ones that keep the flame of the Christian faith alive, here in Jerusalem, and you keep alive the presence of Christ in our midst,” said the Patriarch at the end of the procession.

The procession from Bethphage to St Anne

The faithful met in Bethphage. The passage from the Gospel which relates the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem was proclaimed here: “and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest’.” (Luke 19, 37-38)

All those present went down the Mount of Olives holding branches of  olive trees and palms woven together, praising God with songs and prayers. At the tail-end of the procession, the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land animated the route with singing and music.

The procession was closed by the Patriarch Pizzaballa, the Custos of the Holy Land, Fra Francesco Patton and Mons. Adolfo Tito Yllana, the apostolic nuncio to the Holy Land and delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine, together with representatives of other Christian confessions. The procession came to an end at St Anne’s church, at the Lions’ Gate.

The Risen is the last word of God on the world

At the end of the procession, the Patriarch greeted the people present and gave words of encouragement at the start of the Holy Week and in view of Easter.

“The Passion of Jesus is not the last word of God on the world. The Risen is His last word, and we are here to say and state again,” he said. “Here, today, despite everything, at the gates of His and our city, once again, we declare wanting to welcome him truly as our King and Messiah, and to follow him on His path towards His throne, the cross, which is not a symbol of death, but of love.”

Once again, the Cardinal invited the Christians not to be afraid and not to be discouraged in the face of divisions and hostilities: “This is our vocation: to construct, unite, break down barriers and hope against all hope. This is and remains our strength and this will always be our testimony, despite our many limits.”