Pope Francis remembers Alps crash victims at Mass as church pastor in Lubitz's hometown says community stands by his family

• Francis prayed for the dead - citing in particular the 16 German students - at end of Palm Sunday Mass today
• Disaster killed 150 people including co-pilot Andreas Lubitz who 'deliberately crashed plane into the mountain'
• Pastor of the Lutheran church in Lubitz's hometown Montabaur says community stands by him and his family
• Two wardens at another local service ask God: 'Have you forgotten the people who were sitting on the plane?'

Pope Francis today remembered those killed in the Germanwings crash as he opened solemn Holy Week services in front of some 70,000 faithful.

At the end of Palm Sunday Mass outside St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Francis prayed for those who died in Tuesday's tragedy in the French Alps.

The 78-year-old pontiff cited in particular the 16 German students returning on Flight 4U9525 from an exchange trip to Spain.

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Solemn procession: Pope Francis marks a Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican today, five days after the plane crash

Mass: Pope Francis today remembered those killed in the crash as he opened solemn Holy Week services in front of some 70,000 faithful

Remembered: At the end of Palm Sunday Mass outside St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Francis prayed for those who died in the tragedy

The disaster killed 150 people, including co-pilot Andreas Lubitz who investigators say deliberately crashed the plane into the mountain.

Meanwhile the pastor of the Lutheran church in Lubitz's hometown of Montabaur said today that the community stands by him, as well as his family.

Pastor Michael Dietrich said: ‘For us, it makes it particularly difficult that the only victim from Montabaur is suspected to have caused this tragedy.