Press Release of the Governorate of the Vatican City State Flowers for Holy Week 2025 in the Vatican

During the celebrations of Holy Week in the Vatican thousands of multicolored flowers and plants, originating in Italy and Holland, adorned St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. In collaboration with the generous benefactors who donated the beautiful plants and flowers to the Pope, in honor of this most significant liturgical season, the gardeners and workers of the Garden and Environment Service of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Services of the Governorate once again presented spectacular arrangements and care of detail for the faithful and multitude of pilgrims that had arrived in Rome for Holy Week. 

Beginning on Palm Sunday, April 13, 150 palm fronds and 200,000 small olive branches were provided by the National Association of Olive Oil Producing Cities of the Lazio Region, were distributed to the public for the procession and Mass, all coordinated by Antonio Balenzano, National Director of the Association.

The distribution of some "fenix palme" - donated by the Neocatechumenal Way - was coordinated by Marco Migliorelli of the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

There were also the traditional woven palmurelli, supplied by the family owned floral company of Errico Grazia of Sanremo.

The ancient living olive trees, whose pots were positioned near the statues of Saints Peter and Paul at the foot of the Sagrato and the Obelisk, are in the care of horticultural company Flora Olanda of Rome.

During the Easter Vigil, in the Basilica of Saint Peter, elegant floral decorations were arranged by the workers of the Vatican garden service, thanks to the direction and contribution of the two professors of botany and floristics from the Biotechnology Center of Naklo and the Biotechnology and Tourism Center of Novo Mesto, both in Slovenia.

On the solemnity of Easter, Sunday 20 April, Saint Peter's Square was joyfully adorned with thousands of beautiful flowers and plants cultivated in Holland. Assisted by the Vatican gardeners, the beautiful floral decorations were made thanks to the generous contribution of the national Dutch Florist associates.