A large procession of worshipers - several of then carrying palm branches — from the Holy Family Parish at Fatuoaiga, on Palm Sunday, Apr. 9, took part in a procession commemorating Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in the Bible. Similar processions of worshipers were held at other Catholic parishes across the territory, followed by a combined Mass at the Holy Family Cathedral.

Before the procession began — on a sunny morning following heavy rain Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday morning — a special prayer service was held in front of the Saint Joseph community field followed by the blessing of palms. A spiritual message of remembering the importance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was delivered by Catholic leaders.

Catholics not only in American Samoa, but also around the world marked Palm Sunday with similar procession as part of Sunday services.

At Vatican City, Pope Francis decried the deadly attack on a Coptic church in Egypt during Palm Sunday celebrations, just weeks before his planned visit to Cairo, according to The Associated Press.

The pontiff expressed his "deep condolences" to the Coptic patriarch, Tawadros II, calling him "my brother," to the Coptic church and "all of the dear Egyptian nation," and said he was praying for the dead and injured in the attack that occurred just hours earlier as Francis himself was marking Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square.

The pontiff asked God "to convert the hearts of those who spread terror, violence and death, and also the hearts of those who make, and traffic in, weapons."