In pictures: Palm Sunday

Christians across the world have been celebrating Palm Sunday, which marks the start of Easter week, when Christians commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

The day commemorates the moment when excited crowds laid palm leaves at Jesus' feet as he entered Jerusalem, hoping he would liberate them from Roman rule.

For the first time in his papacy, Pope John Paul chose to limit his participation at the Vatican's Palm Sunday Mass, and read his homily from a chair. The Mass was officiated instead by Cardinal Camillo Ruini.

Pope John Paul II rides his pope-mobile during celebrations in St Peters square at the Vatican

This year's pilgrimage along Jesus' path into Jerusalem's Old City was dubbed a "March for Peace"

The Archbishop of Canterbury joined worshippers in Jerusalem, although recent violence kept numbers low

In Poland, clerics and town residents re-enacted Christ's crucifixion at the hands of Roman soldiers

Catholics waved palms as they waited for a priest to bless them in the Philippines

And in Guatemala, statues of key figures from the Bible were paraded through the streets