Around 400 Catholics joined a procession for Palm Sunday at Vår frälsares katolska kyrka in Hästhagen, Malmö. Cardinal Anders Arborelius preached and sprinkled holy water over the gathered faithful, with palm leaves imported from Costa Rica waving in the air. Participant Daniela Dolenec described the atmosphere as joyful.
Police monitored traffic around the church as the procession moved through the streets with the cardinal and bishop at the front. Parish coordinator Henry Rowicki highlighted the diversity of nationalities among the large crowd.
The palm leaves are blessed during the day and kept to be burned on the next Ash Wednesday, when the ash is used to mark crosses on foreheads. Daniela Dolenec, 28, walks in the procession with her parents and imagines Jesus's entry into Jerusalem. She fasts from social media during Lent to focus on prayer and quiet.
Maria Jawdut Wadiea, 24, and her father Ammar Jawdut Wadiea share their fasting practices. They avoid sweets and chips, eating vegetables to empathize with the poor, and look forward to Easter ending the fast.
The celebration kicks off Holy Week, leading to Easter with traditions like the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and Jesus's resurrection on Easter Sunday.
