Pope Francis to visit Brazil in July for youth festival
(about 11 hours later)
Pope Francis is to begin the Catholic Church's most important liturgical season with a Palm Sunday Mass in Rome.
Pope Francis, the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader, has announced in his Palm Sunday homily he will visit Brazil in July.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims are expected in St Peter's Square for the Mass that marks the start of Holy Week.
He will attend a Catholic youth gathering in Rio de Janeiro, saying Mass on Copacabana beach and praying at the Christ the Redeemer statue.
Sprigs of olive trees will be distributed to the faithful in remembrance of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem before his crucifixion.
The Pope spoke in St Peter's Square as Holy Week, the most important period in the Christian calendar, began.
The run-up to Easter is considered the most important week in the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church.
Thousands of people waved olive branches and palm fronds in the crowd.
After Sunday's Mass, the Pope will lead six more liturgies during the week, culminating with the Easter Sunday Mass and Urbi et Orbi blessing.
The gesture commemorates palm branches which, according to the Bible, were laid in the path of Jesus Christ when he made his entry on a donkey into Jerusalem before his crucifixion.
What the newly-elected Pope says during these services will take on added significance coming at the start of his pontificate, says the BBC's David Willey in Rome.
Pope Francis departed frequently from the prepared text of his homily, the BBC's David Willey reports from Rome.
Observances modified
His style is informal, direct and, in contrast to his predecessors, he tells stories off the cuff to illustrate the points he wants to make, our correspondent says.
On Saturday, the Argentine Pope held a first meeting with his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict, who is now living in retirement near Rome.
'See you in Rio'
Pope Francis was flown by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo for the private lunch with Pope Emeritus Benedict.
The Catholic youth festival is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims from around the world.
Benedict has lived at the lakeside castle south of Rome since last month, when he became the first pope in six centuries to resign, citing ill health.
Towards the end of his homily, the pontiff said: "I look forward joyfully to next July in Rio de Janeiro.
Cardinal Jorge Maria Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected to succeed him on 13 March.
"I will see you in that great city in Brazil."
The gathering in Rio would, he said, be a "sign of faith for the whole world".
Pope Benedict attended the last such festival, in Madrid, in August 2011.
Known formally as Pope Emeritus Benedict since his retirement last month, he received his successor for the first time on Saturday, at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo outside Rome.
Pope Francis has decided to modify some traditional Vatican Holy Week observances.
Pope Francis has decided to modify some traditional Vatican Holy Week observances.
On Thursday, for example, he will visit a prison for young offenders in a Roman suburb where he will symbolically wash the feet of 12 young prisoners.
On Thursday, for example, he will visit a prison for young offenders in a Roman suburb where he will symbolically wash the feet of 12 young prisoners.
In previous years the ceremony was performed by the Pope in Rome's Cathedral of Saint John Lateran with priests symbolising the 12 apostles.
In previous years the ceremony was performed by the pope in Rome's Cathedral of Saint John Lateran, with priests symbolising the 12 apostles.
New style
The new Pope chose the name Francis in honour of St Francis of Assisi - the 13th Century Italian saint who spurned a life of luxury to work with the poor.
He has called for the Roman Catholic Church to be closer to ordinary people, especially the poor and disadvantaged.
And, only 10 days into his pontificate, he has made some subtle but significant changes in the lifestyle of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, says our correspondent.
He dresses very simply, preferring to wear plain black shoes under a simple white habit rather than the red leather loafers and ermine-trimmed cape worn by his predecessor.
The first Latin American Pope spurned a special car to take a bus with his cardinals after he was elected, and insisted on returning to his Rome hotel the next day to pay his own bill.
And Pope Francis places himself on the same level as his guests, rather than greeting them from a throne on an elevated platform, which is seen as a powerful gesture after centuries of Vatican pomp.
The former archbishop of Buenos Aires has also started inviting guests to his early morning Mass - including Vatican gardeners, street sweepers, kitchen staff and maids working at the hotel where he is currently staying.
