The Vatican said earlier that his Holy Weeks and Easter services next month will be held without public participation, a step believed to be unprecedented in modern times. The Holy Week services, which begin on Palm Sunday, lead up to Easter, the most important day of the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar for the world's 1.3 billion members. Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' entry to Jerusalem, usually takes place in St Peter's Square, which traditionally is decorated with olive trees while those in the crowd hold up palm branches. Another Holy Week event, the Way of the Cross procession on Good Friday, takes place around Rome's ancient Colosseum. The noon children's Mass usually attracts about 200 people, he said.

Source: bd News24 March 15, 2020 20:15 UTC