By Olivia Williams PUBLISHED: 13:34 EST, 24 March 2013 | UPDATED: 21:43 EST, 24 March 2013 Pope Francis celebrated his first Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter's Square today, as hundreds of thousands joyfully waved olive branches and palm fronds. St Peter's Square overflowed with 250,000 pilgrims, tourists and Italians eager to join the new pope at the start of solemn Holy Week ceremonies, which lead up to Easter. In keeping with his spontaneous style, the first pope from Latin America broke away several times from the text of his prepared homily to encourage the faithful to lead simple lives.
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Pope Francis marked the start of Holy Week in Rome today
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In his address Francis encouraged believers to be loving and unmaterialistic
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250,000 pilgrims, tourists and Italians crowded into St Peter's Square
Outdoor ceremony: Francis blessed the palms under a white canopy, with many of the cardinals who elected him @placeholder looking on