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Vatican crowds cheer Pope

Pope John Paul II waves to the faithful gathered for Palm Sunday mass

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II has presided over a Palm Sunday service which also combined the celebration of the church's World Youth Day.

The Pope blessed thousands of young Roman Catholics gathered in St Peter's Square and holding palm fronds and olive branches.

Dressed in white and blood-red vestments he was driven around the square in an open-topped white jeep, followed by bishops and cardinals.

The Pope paused to bless the crowd of tens of thousands.

Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem days before his death, coincides with the Catholic Church's World Youth Day, being held in Rome this year.

The 80-year-old Pontiff welcomed young Catholics from around Italy, who brought with them a huge cross which had been carried around the country during the past year.

At the end of the mass, the Italian delegation handed the wooden cross to Catholics from Canada where Youth Day 2002 will be held in Toronto.

"Once more the cross goes on its pilgrimage along the roads of the world," the Pope said.

Crowds fill St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

"I strongly remind each and every one of you that the cross of Christ is the way of life and salvation, the way to receive the palm of victory on the day of resurrection," he said in his sermon.

The Pope, who has often praised young Catholics as the future hope of the church, was cheered at the end of his address with cries of "John Paul! John Paul!"

The Palm Sunday mass is the first ceremony of Holy Week, which ends on Easter Sunday, one of the most important days on the Christian calendar.

The Pope will preside over a Thursday morning mass at the Vatican and later in the evening vespers at the Basilica of St John in Lateran where he traditionally recalls Jesus's humility by kissing the feet of 12 men.

Good Friday, the day the Church remembers Jesus' crucifixion, will see the Pontiff lead the ceremony of Christ's Passion in St Peter's Basilica.

That evening, in one of the most colourful ceremonies of the week, the Pope leads the "Via Crucis" (The way of the cross) around the ruins of the ancient Colosseum.

Holy Week draws to a close on Easter Sunday in a mass to celebrate Christ's resurrection.

After the Eucharist service the Pope delivers his twice-yearly "Urbi et Orbi" (To the City and the World) message and blessing.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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