Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday by speaking off-the-cuff to worshippers — and then posing for selfies with his adoring flock.
Francis disregarded prepared remarks and winged his homily before 100,000 people packed in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
The popular pontiff challenged worshippers to keep their faith strong in the face of complacency.
“Has my life fallen asleep?” Francis asked, in reference to Gospel accounts that Jesus’ disciples fell asleep shortly before he was betrayed by Judas.
“Am I like Pontius Pilate, who, when he sees the situation is difficult, washes my hands?”
Francis spoke for 2¹/₂ hours and told parishioners to use Holy Week as an occasion to renew their faith.
“Where is my heart?” he said. “[This is the] question which accompanies us [throughout Holy Week].”
Following the service, the pontiff was mobbed by young worshippers who begged him to pose for selfies — requests he immediately obliged, even hopping off the Popemobile to say cheese with a gaggle of Polish youths.
Sunday’s Mass kicked off what will be a huge week for Christians across the globe.
Holy Week in Rome culminates in six days with Easter Mass, also in St. Peter’s Square.
Then on April 27, worshippers will witness the canonization of two popes, John Paul II and John XXIII.
About 3,500 worshippers packed St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on Sunday to celebrate Mass with Timothy Cardinal Dolan.
“Today we gather together along with the entire church the beginning of Holy Week, the celebration of our lord’s pastoral mystery — that is to say, his passion and resurrection,” Dolan said.
Additional reporting by David K. LI, with Post Wires