the pope led the world's roman catholics in palm sunday celebrations by paying tribute to those killed for their faith   a reference to the victims of islamic state militants thousands of people, including the 78 year old argentine pope and prelates dressed in red vestments, carried palm fronds and branches in st peter's square on the day that marks the start of holy week, which ends on easter sunday in his homily during the mass that followed, francis, who last month denounced the killing of 21 egyptian coptic christians by islamic state militants in libya, paid tribute to those he said were being killed for their faith today scroll down for video  waving to the faithful: the pope led the world's roman catholics in palm sunday celebrations by paying tribute to those killed for their faith  thousands of people gathered in st peter's square in the vatican city on the day that marks the start of holy week, which ends on easter sunday  many of those who attended, including the 78 year old argentine pope (centre) and prelates dressed in red vestments, carried palm fronds and branches  speaking out: in his homily during the mass that followed, francis paid tribute to those he said were being killed for their faith today  he presided at a colourful procession in st peter's square  commemorating the day the bible says people of jerusalem  welcomed jesus days before he was crucified 'we think too of the humiliation endured by all those who,  for their lives of fidelity to the gospel, encounter  discrimination and pay a personal price,' he said, speaking in  italian 'we think too of our brothers and sisters who are persecuted  because they are christians, the martyrs of our own time there  are many of them they refuse to deny jesus and they endure  insult and injury with dignity,' he said procession: cardinals hold palm leaves while pope francis leads the palm sunday mass at st peter's square at the vatican on sunday  francis presided at a colourful procession in st peter's squarecommemorating the day the bible says people of jerusalem welcomed jesus days before he was crucified  leading prayers: francis (pictured) has at times expressed alarm over the rise of islamic state militants and the plight of christians in the middle east  palm sunday marks the official beginning of holy week during which christians observe the death of christ  francis has at times expressed alarm over the rise of  islamic state militants and the plight of christians in the  middle east he has said that the international community would be  justified in using military force as a last resort to stop  'unjust aggression' but that it should not be up to a single  nation to decide how to intervene in the conflict the coming week is one of the busiest in the liturgical  calendar for the leader of the world's 12 billion roman  catholics the coming week is one of the busiest in the liturgicalcalendar for the leader of the world's 12 billion roman catholics  cardinals hold palm leaves as pope francis leads the palm sunday mass at saint peter's square at the vatican on sunday  huge crowds assembled at st peter's square pope francis used the opportunity to pay tribute to those he said were being killed for their faith  on holy thursday, he presides at two services, including one  at a rome prison where he will wash and kiss the feet of male  and female inmates to commemorate christ's gesture of humility  towards his apostles on the night before he died francis is the first pope to hold the foot washing service  outside a church and to include women and muslims, which has  upset conservative catholics he presides at two good friday services, including a via  crucis (way of the cross) procession around the colosseum after celebrating easter eve and easter day masses he  delivers his 'urbi et orbi' (to the city and the world) message
78 year old argentine roman catholics last month francis egyptian coptic islamic libya st peter's the day the start of holy week 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 