Christians celebrate Palm Sunday, which commemorates Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem today with a mass led by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez at the Cathedral of Our Lady of The Angels.
The Mass began outdoors on the Cathedral Plaza with the blessing of palm branches, which will then be carried by the faithful as they process into the cathedral, following Christian tradition begun in the fourth century.
Additional Palm Sunday Masses were celebrated at the cathedral in English and Spanish.
A special chapel for Pope Francis was designated in the cathedral so visitors could offer their prayers for him during Holy Week and the Easter Season.
The chapel had photographs of Pope Francis and items from the conclave, including an unused ballot from the conclave, a tally sheet on which cardinal electors could keep track of the votes, the official prayer book and ritual book the cardinals used inside the conclave.
"This Sunday begins the holiest week of the year for Catholics," Gomez said. "There is no greater love than the love Jesus Christ shows us by dying on the cross for us.
"This is my prayer for all of us in Los Angeles this Holy Week -- that God's love will touch us in a new way this week and open our hearts so that we will love one another as God loves us.''
