Easter celebrations are taking place around the world, marking the most important festival in the Christian calendar. Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in St Peter’s square to hear Pope Francis lead Easter Sunday Mass. According to the Bible, Jesus was resurrected on Easter Sunday after dying on the cross on Good Friday. Many people also attend services on Saturday evening as well as on Sunday.
In a two-hour vigil at the Vatican on Saturday, Pope Francis participated despite his last-minute withdrawal from a ceremony. Concerns about his health were raised when he did not join a Good Friday procession, but he read a long homily and performed several baptisms. The significance of Easter Sunday, observed by 1.3 billion people worldwide, is not lost on Catholics around the globe who are eager to celebrate this important event in their faith.
Worshippers in Sri Lanka gathered at St Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya to receive Holy communions from a Catholic priest while similar services were held in European capitals, cities and towns. In Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa led Easter Sunday Mass while worshippers kissed a cross at an Easter vigil service in Al-Hamdaniya, Iraq.
Easter celebrations took place globally with various rituals and traditions being followed by each community. In Manila, children dressed as angels and prayed while in Nairobi’s Kiberia district worshippers of all ages gathered to light candles. The global celebration of Easter highlights the importance of faith and community coming together to honor this special day in the Christian calendar.
