Thousands gather in St. Peter’s Square each year for Palm Sunday Mass.
This year was different, however, as Pope Francis did not give his homily, according to ABC News.
Palm Sunday Mass is the start of Holy Week, a strenuous time for popes with many events on tap leading up to Easter Sunday.. But Pope Francis’ health, bad knees and respiratory problems, prompted him to scale back this year.
ABC reported he also did not join the procession of cardinals by the obelisk in the piazza at the start of the Mass. Rather than be in the procession, he blessed palms from the altar.
Although he had been expected to give a homily — the speech had been given to journalists — the 87-year-old pontiff turned away an aide who tried to give him his reading glasses, per ABC.
Vatican officials have not given a reason for the sudden change, but later said that instead of a homily, there was “a moment of silence and prayer,” the outlet reported.
The pope did offer prayers for peace at the end of Mass. He specifically noted he was praying the the families of the people killed in an attack at a Moscow concert venue and for “the martyred Ukraine” and people of Gaza, according to ABC.
“May he convert the hearts of those who protect, organize and carry out these inhuman acts that offend God, who commanded us not to kill,” Pope Francis said.
According to Vatican officials, about 60,000 came to the Mass.
Pope Francis is expected to go to a women’s prison in Rome on Holy Thursday for the washing of the feet.
