The 78-year - old Argentine pope led the world 's largest Catholics by paying tribute to those killed for their faith . Last month Pope Francis denounced the killing of suspected Egyptian Coptic Christians by Islamic State militants in 2016 . Thousands gathered at pope Peter 's Squareon the day that marks the start of Holy Week , which ends on Easter Sunday .
The 78-year-old Argentine pope led the world 's Roman Catholics by paying tribute to those killed for their faith . Last month Pope Francis denounced the killing of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by Islamic State militants in Libya . Thousands gathered at St Peter 's Squareon the day that marks the start of Holy Week , which ends on Easter Sunday .