VATICAN:
1. GV Pope in procession on Palm Sunday 0.09
2. GV/SV Huge crowd in St Peter's Square holding palms (4 shots) 0.42
3. SV Pope meeting worshippers (2 shots) 1.03
JERUSALEM:
4. GV ZOOM OUT Flags, procession or religious worshippers (2 shots) 1.11
5. SV Child and nun, other children with palms in procession, adults in procession with palms (4 shots) 1.45
6. GV Cross on church, ZOOM OUT TO Children singing 2.00
InitialsASG/BB

EUROVISION RECORDING
Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: VATICAN/JERUSALEM

Palm Sunday observances took place in Vatican City and in Jerusalem's Old City on April 15, with thousands of celebrants carrying traditional palm fronds as part of the annual Christian festival. In St Peter's Square, an estimated 350,000 people marked the beginning of Holy Week by joining Pope John Paul II in a Sunday mass. The Pontiff began the service by blessing olive and palm leaves in the Square, and then led a huge procession to an outdoor altar from which he delivered his Palm Sunday homily. Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa of India was among dozens of people to receive communion directly from the Pope. In Jerusalem, where the Palm Sunday tradition supposedly began when Jesus's entry into the city was greeted by palm-waving worshippers, Christian faithful carried flags and palm leaves during their processional walks through the Old City's winding, cobblestone streets. Children were active participants in the Jerusalem celebration, and nuns and
other worshippers joined the youngsters en route to the Old City's Christian shrines.

Source: RAI/REUTERS (U)