Pope Benedict, marking Palm Sunday before a crowd waving palm fronds and olive branches, called for urgent action to prevent further deaths of desperate African migrants trying to reach Europe by sea.

Ending celebrations to mark Jesus Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem a week before being crucified, the pope urged coordinated action to prevent a repeat of the tragedy that struck last week when a crowded migrant ship capsized off Libya.

More than 200 Africans and others are feared to have drowned.

"We can't resign ourselves to tragedies like this that unfortunately have been occurring for some time," the Pope told pilgrims packed into St. Peter's Square under sunny skies.

"The dimensions of the phenomenon make it increasingly urgent that strategies coordinated between the European Union and African states, just like adequate measures of a humanitarian nature, are taken to prevent migrants from turning to unscrupulous traffickers."

Pope Benedict made his appeal on migrants after leading a procession of cardinals and bishops carrying hand-braided palm fronds in St. Peter's Square at the start of celebrations for the fourth Palm Sunday of his pontificate.

Reflecting on his personal experiences to strengthen his message, Pope Benedict exhorted Catholics to consider a life of sacrifice and renunciation.

"A successful life without sacrifice does not exist," said Pope Benedict, seated on a dais in front of St. Peter's basilica wearing bright red, gold and white vestments.

"If I look back on my personal life, I have to say that the moments when I said 'yes' to renunciation were the biggest and most important moments of my life."

Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week, and the eight days leading to Easter Sunday are the most intense in the Roman Catholic Church's liturgical calendar.

On Holy Thursday, the Pope will preside over two masses recalling Christ's Last Supper with his apostles, including one where he will wash and dry the feet of 12 men.

On Good Friday he will hold two services commemorating Christ's crucifixion, including a Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession around the ancient ruins of Rome's Colosseum.

Benedict then presides at an Easter Eve mass on Saturday and marks Christ's Resurrection with Easter Sunday celebrations in St Peter's Square, when he delivers his twice yearly Urbi et Orbi (to the city and world) blessing and message.

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