Easter celebrations around the world
A Pakistani Christian woman prays during an Easter service at Catholic Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, April 16, 2017.
Christians across the world celebrated Easter Sunday, commemorating the day followers believe Jesus Christ was resurrected 2,000 years ago.
Vatican City
Pope Francis holds a candle as he leads the Easter Vigil Mass in Saint Peter’s basilica at the Vatican, April 15, 2017.
Vatican City
Pope Francis delivers his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 16, 2017.
Vatican City
Pope Francis leads the Easter Mass in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 16, 2017.
Netherlands
People march in a procession with the white cross of the TV broadcast “The Passion” through the streets of Leeuwarden, Netherlands, on April 13, 2017. On the basis of famous Dutch pop songs, “The Passion” tells the story of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Kenya
A faithful of the Legio Maria African Mission church carries a candle as he attends the Easter Vigil Mass in the Fort Jesus area of Nairobi, Kenya April 16, 2017.
India
A Christian priest performs Holy Communion as he leads the Easter Mass in Chandigarh, India, April 16, 2017.
India
A man holds an idol of Jesus Christ as Indian Christian devotees offer prayers at a Church on Easter Sunday in Jammu, India, Sunday, April 16, 2017. Christians make up about 2.3 percent of India’s population of 1.26 billion.
India
Indian Christians participate in Easter Sunday rituals at a Church in Gauhati, India, Sunday, April 16, 2017.
Germany
Sorbian men dressed in black tailcoats ride decorated horses during an Easter rider procession near Panschwitz, Germany April 16, 2017.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnian Catholics participate in an annual egg breaking competition on the first day of Easter in Paklarevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, April 16, 2017.
Lebanon
Lebanese Christian priests distribute painted eggs to celebrate Greek Orthodox Easter after an Easter service at St. George Church in central Beirut, Lebanon April 16, 2017.
Italy
Members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Loreto run across a square as they carry the statue of Madonna che Scappa (The Madonna Who Runs) during an Easter Sunday celebration in Sulmona, Italy April 16, 2017.
Nicaragua
Actor Roberto Vallejos takes part in a re-enactment of the “Via Crucis” (Way of the Cross), which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, during Holy Week celebration in Managua, Nicaragua April 15, 2017.
El Salvador
Catholics take part in the Procession of Lights, as part of the Holy Week celebration in Nahuizalco, El Salvador April 15, 2017.
Iraq
Volunteers prepare painted eggs during celebrations after the Easter Mass in Mar Gewargis (St. George) Chaldean Catholic Church, which was damaged by Islamic State militants, in the town of Tel Esqof, Iraq, April 16, 2017.
Iraq
Believers take part in the Easter Mass in Mar Gewargis (St. George) Chaldean Catholic church, which was damaged by Islamic State militants, in the town of Tel Esqof, Iraq, April 16, 2017.
Iraq
A Christian militiaman stands guard during Easter Mass in Qaraqosh, Iraq, Sunday, April 16 2017. The town has been gutted by Islamic State militants. Now under government control, many residents have not returned.
Pakistan
A girl attends the Easter Mass at the Fatima Church in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 16, 2017.
Ukraine
Greek-Catholic believers visit the graves of their loved ones to pay homage on Easter Sunday, in the township of Pustomyty, Ukraine, April 16, 2017.
Ethiopia
An Ethiopian Orthodox faithful holds candles during Easter Eve prayers at the Medhane Alem church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 15, 2017.
Jerusalem
A Christian worshipper lights candles during an Sunday Easter Mass procession in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City April 16, 2017.
Jerusalem
Christian worshippers surround the Edicule as they take part in a Sunday Easter Mass procession in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City April 16, 2017.
Jerusalem
Christian worshippers take part in a Sunday Easter Mass procession in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City April 16, 2017.
Jerusalem
Christian worshippers take part in a Sunday Easter Mass procession in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City April 16, 2017.
Jerusalem
Christian worshippers light candles during a Sunday Easter Mass procession in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City April 16, 2017.
Bethlehem
The head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Bethlehem, Bishop Theofilactos, holds candles lit up from “Holy Fire” after its arrival from Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem April 15, 2017.
Syria
Syrian security stand near Armenian Christian scouts during Easter celebrations in Damascus, Syria April 16, 2017.
Belarus
Villagers make Easter cakes on the eve of Orthodox Easter in the village of Pogost, Belarus, April 15, 2017.
Ukraine
A girl waits outside a church during a ceremony to bless Easter cakes and eggs before a Greek-Catholic Easter service in Pustomyty, Ukraine, April 15, 2017.
Hungary
Members of the Hungarian folk dance ensemble Lajta from the City of Mosonmagyarovar perform during Easter Sunday festivities in Skanzen open-air museum of ethnography in Szentendre, north of Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday April 16, 2017.
Argentina
Christian worshipers hold candles lit from a bonfire before Midnight Mass ahead of Easter in Tigre, Argentina, April 15, 2017.
Belarus
A glass with vodka, a piece of Easter cake, an egg, and sweets are seen at a grave in a cemetery on Orthodox Easter in the village of Pogost, Belarus April 16, 2017.
Spain
Penitents of the “La Esperanza de Triana” brotherhood parade during the Holy Week on April 13, 2017 in Seville.
Georgia
Worshippers attend a midnight Easter service at Sioni cathedral in Tbilisi, Georgia, April 15, 2017.
Russia
Worshippers attend the Orthodox Easter service at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, April 16, 2017.
Bolivia
A sand sculpture that depicts Jesus Christ is pictured during Holy Week celebrations in the Arenal de Cochiraya, on the outskirts of Oruro, Bolivia, April 14, 2017.
Macedonia
Orthodox nuns attend the Christian Orthodox Easter service at the 10th century St. John the Baptist Monastery near Mavrovo, west of Macedonia’s capital Skopje, April 16, 2017.