Article: Pope starts Holy Week ceremonies; Calls for renewed faith in Christ.(Main News)

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- Pope John Paul II kicked off a gruelling Easter Week program yesterday, blessing thousands of young Roman Catholics, palm fronds and olive branches in a colorful Palm Sunday service.

Under a bright blue spring sky, a crowd of young people opened the ceremony by parading lush green palm fronds into St. Peter's Square, followed by bishops, cardinals and the Pope in bright white and bloodred vestments.

Gathered around the obelisk which stands in the middle of the oval piazza, people waved their branches while the Pope, driven in on an open-topped white jeep, paused to bless the crowd of tens of thousands.

Palm Sunday, ...

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