On Palm Sunday, Pope Francis said, “Only Jesus can deliver humanity from hatred and violence.”

“Jesus entered Jerusalem as a humble and peaceful king,” he said in brief remarks after celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

He prayed that the faithful would open their hearts to the Lord because he alone “can deliver us from animosity, hatred, violence because he is mercy and the forgiveness of sins.”

Dressed in red vestments, the colour of the Passion, Pope Francis read brief remarks after praying the Angelus, greeted the cardinals in attendance from his wheelchair and rode in the popemobile for about 15 minutes enthusiastically greeting the faithful, waving, gesturing, offering a thumbs up and occasionally calling out remarks to those he saw.

He expressed his sorrow over a deadly attack in Moscow on March 22 in which more than 130 people were killed inside a crowded concert venue.

He prayed for the victims of this “cowardly terrorist attack” and called for the conversion of the “hearts of those who plan, organize and carry out these inhumane actions that offend God, who commanded, ‘Thou shalt not kill.'”

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