Pope Francis: “I Wish You a Holy Week in Contemplation of the Mystery of Jesus Christ”

At Sunday Angelus, the Pope prays for victims of last week's Germanwings plane crash

VATICAN CITY —  As Holy Week begins, Pope Francis expressed his hope that the faithful might spend the most solemn week of the Church’s liturgical year “in contemplation of the Mystery of Jesus Christ.”

Addressing faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square at the conclusion of the liturgical celebration of Palm Sunday and the Lord’s Passion, the Pope also extended special greetings to young people preparing for the next World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, and he prayed especially for the victims of Tuesday’s Germanwings plane tragedy in the French Alps.

Here below is Pope Francis’ Angelus address:

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At the end of this celebration, I warmly greet all of you who are present here, especially the young people. Dear young people, I urge you to continue your path both in your dioceses, and in your pilgrimage across the continents, which will lead you to the next day in Krakow, the homeland of Pope St. John Paul II, founder of the World Youth Day. The theme of the great Meeting — “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy” — fits well with the Holy Year of Mercy. Let yourself be filled by the tenderness of the Father, to spread it around you.

And now let us turn in prayer to Mary our Mother, so that she might help us to live out Holy Week with faith. She too was present when Jesus entered Jerusalem amid the crowd’s acclaim; but her heart, like that of her Son, was ready for sacrifice. Let us learn from her, the faithful Virgin, to follow the Lord also when his way leads to the cross.

I entrust to her intercession the victims of last Tuesday’s plane crash, among them a group of German students.

Angelus Domini…

After imparting his blessing, the Holy Father added:

“I wish you a Holy Week in contemplation of the Mystery of Jesus Christ.”

Diane Montagna is Rome correspondent for Aleteia's English edition.