Ancient costumes and traditional songs are mixed with a babel of languages and musical instruments on Palm Sunday in Beitfage. The procession begins from the sanctuary, on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives, and follows, step by step, the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. "We come from Poland, the flowers on the olive branches remind us of those which were thrown at the feet of Jesus as he passed by... it means remembering that he is alive among us today." It's beautiful to be here with all these people who believe in God. The Lord is truly among us." The long, joyful line of people proceeds through the steep streets of the holy city for what is the most important public celebration of the local Christian community. More than 40 Palestinian pilgrims' coaches have arrived from the West Bank... and a special entry permit is granted for Easter week. "We're from Aboud, near Ramallah, it's important for us to be there, because this is our land." Alongside the Palestinian community, there is the much smaller number of Hebrew-speaking Christians, mainly immigrants. F. DAVID NEUHAUS, sj Hebrew speaking Catholics "These are part of the 60,000. They're Filipinos, Indians, Singhalese." The door of the lions welcomes the pilgrims in the old town... dances and songs in the courtyard of the Church of St. Anne, mark the wait of the religious authorities... from the Custos of the Holy Land to the Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate... HE Mgr PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA, ofm Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem "It is a way of meeting as a joyful community that puts aside all its difficulties and expresses its joy and pride in being Christians in the Holy Land.” Pizzaballa's blessing concludes the joyful celebration of Palm Sunday, a prelude to Jesus' painful way to Calvary.