Opening Holy Week services with Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis brought attention to recent tragic events by stressing his congregation, while striving toward humility, should take time to remember the dead in the Germanwings crash.

The pope, at the end of the Mass, which was held outside St. Peter's Basilica and attended by about 70,000 faithful, prayed for those who died in last Tuesday’s crash in the French Alps.

The pontiff made a special note of the fact there was a group of German schoolchildren aboard the doomed plane.

Investigators have said the co-pilot was suicidal and deliberately slammed the plane into the mountain.

The air disaster ended the lives of 150 people.

During the traditional procession at the initiation of the service, Francis clutched a palm frond.

Francis, who has been the head of the Catholic Church for two years now, leaned on a plain wooden pastoral staff instead of using, as several pontiffs have before, a more ornate one.

Standing under a red canopy on the basilica steps, the Argentinian-born pope wore bright red vestments to recall Jesus' death by crucifixion.

As reported by The Associated Press, Francis stressed the virtues of humility, a quality which many have noted has differentiated his papal actions from those of past popes.

Francis praised people who quietly ignore their own needs in order to serve others, paying special tribute to Christians who endure with dignity humiliation, discrimination and even persecution for their religious faith.

Many of the people in attendance were among the pilgrims who have come to Rome in order to witness Holy Week appearances made by Francis.

The pope will preside over a Way of the Cross service at the Colosseum this coming Friday.

On Easter Sunday Francis will celebrate mid-morning Mass in St. Peter's Square, offering his blessings from the basilica's central balcony.