In pictures: Easter celebrations around the world

Pope Francis has led Easter celebrations, delivering a message of peace before a huge crowd in the Vatican, despite concerns of his health

Apr 2, 2024 - 11:57
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Elsewhere, festivities have been taking place across the world to mark the most important festival in the Christian calendar - Easter.

Reuters Pope Francis attends the Easter Mass at St. Peter's Square at the VaticanReuters

Tens of thousands of worshippers have gathered in St Peter's square to hear Pope Francis lead Easter Sunday Mass.

Reuters Tens of thousands of worshippers have gathered in St Peter's square in Rome to hear Pope Francis lead Easter Sunday MassReuters

Jesus was resurrected on Easter Sunday, the Bible says, days after dying on the cross on Good Friday. It is traditional for many to attend services on Saturday evening as well as on Sunday.

A day after pulling out of a ceremony at short notice, Pope Francis took part in a two-hour vigil at the Vatican on Saturday.

There had been renewed concern about his health when he did not participate in a Good Friday procession.

Reuters The Pope looks at a candle during the Easter VigilReuters

But, the 87-year-old pontiff read a lengthy homily and carried out a number of baptisms.

Around the world, people celebrated Easter including in the Philippines where worshippers crowded to get a glimpse of the traditional procession.

Reuters Crowds gather on stairs for a traditional procession in the PhilippinesReuters
Crowds gather on stairs for a traditional procession in the Philippines

In the capital Manila, children dressed as angels and prayed.

Reuters Children dressed as angels pray ahead of the processionReuters
Reuters In Fort Jesus, Kenya worshippers young and old joined together to light candlesReuters

Elsewhere, in Nairobi's Kiberia district in Kenya, worshippers young and old joined together to light candles.

EPA Priests led the service in Nairobi next to a fire outside the churchEPA
Priests led the service in Nairobi next to a fire outside the church
Reuters A woman attends the Easter Sunday service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church of Pakistan, in KarachiReuters
A woman attends the Easter Sunday service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church of Pakistan, in Karachi
Getty Images A Catholic priest gives the Holy communion to a Christian devotee during an Easter Sunday service commemorating the resurrection of Jesus as part of the Holy Week celebrations and to mark the fifth anniversary of the Easter Sunday attack, at St. Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya.Getty Images

Among those Christians celebrating Easter Sunday around the globe are 1.4 billion people belonging to the Catholic Church.

At the St Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya, Sri Lanka, a Catholic priest gave Holy communion to Christian devotees.

Services have also been held across many European capitals, cities and towns.

Getty Images Catholic faithful offer prayers on Easter Sunday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus as part of the Holy Week celebrations at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in LahoreGetty Images
Reuters Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, leads Easter Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old CityReuters
Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa leads Easter Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City
Reuters A worshipper kisses a cross during an Easter vigil service at the Grand Immaculate Church in Al-Hamdaniya, IraqReuters
A worshipper kisses a cross during an Easter vigil service at the Grand Immaculate Church in Al-Hamdaniya, Iraq
Reuters Men of Slavic ethnic minority of Sorbs, dressed in black tailcoats, ride decorated horses during an Easter rider procession in Ralbitz, eastern GermanyReuters
Following an ancient religious ritual, Sorbs, an ethnic Slavic minority in Germany, ride decorated horses while singing and announce Jesus Christ's resurrection
Getty Images A cart, packed full of fireworks and other pyrotechnics, is lit by the archbishop to provide a historic spectacle, during 'Explosion of the Cart' event, known as Scoppio del Carro within Easter celebration in FlorenceGetty Images
A cart, packed full of fireworks and other pyrotechnics, is lit by the archbishop to provide a historic spectacle known as Scoppio del Carro within Easter celebration in Florence, Italy
Getty Images King Charles has attended the Easter Sunday church service at Windsor Castle with Queen Camilla in his first major public appearance since being diagnosed with cancer
-bbc