The square overflowed with some 250, 000 pilgrims, tourists and Romans eager to join the new pope at the start of solemn Holy Week ceremonies, which lead up to Easter, Christianity's most important day.

NPR: New Pope Opens Holy Week At Vatican On Palm Sunday

The past two weeks have seen a lull in violence in the lead-up to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which started in Iraq on Saturday.

MSN: Bombs kill 20 and wound 80 across Iraq - World news - Mideast/N. Africa - Conflict in Iraq | NBC News