Posted: 04.10.09 with updates through 04.12.09

Holy Week around the world

Though cultures and customs vary around the world, liturgies and devotions during Holy Week have one central theme — the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In focus presents the best photographs from around the world of the faithful as they remember God’s mercy and once again bring to life the heritage of our faith.

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his Easter blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city of Rome and the world) April 12 overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. In his message he called for renewed efforts to bring about peace in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He said he would carry a message of reconciliation when travels to the Holy Land May 8 for a weeklong visit.

CNS | L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO, REUTERS
VATICAN CITY, | Pope Benedict XVI delivers his Easter blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city of Rome and the world) April 12 overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. In his message he called for renewed efforts to bring about peace in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He said he would carry a message of reconciliation when travels to the Holy Land May 8 for a weeklong visit.

A Palestinian boy stands in a pew with Missionaries of Charity nuns during Easter Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City April 12.

CNS | SUHAIB SALEM, REUTERS
GAZA CITY, | A Palestinian boy stands in a pew with Missionaries of Charity nuns during Easter Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City April 12.

CNS | AKO RASHEED, REUTERS
KIRKUK, Iraq | Catholics hold candles during the Easter Vigil Mass at a Chaldean church in Kirkuk, Iraq, April 11.

CNS | DEBBIE HILL
JERUSALEM | Nuns attend the Easter Vigil at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem’s Old City April 11.

Pope Benedict XVI holds the paschal candle as he celebrates the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican April 11.

CNS | GIAMPIERO SPOSITO, REUTERS
VATICAN CITY | Pope Benedict XVI holds the paschal candle as he celebrates the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican April 11.

Chinese Catholics hold candles during the Easter Vigil Mass at a church in Xiaohan village of Tianjin municipality, China, April 11.

CNS | VINCENT DU, REUTERS
TIANJIN, China | Chinese Catholics hold candles during the Easter Vigil Mass at a church in Xiaohan village of Tianjin municipality, China, April 11.

A candlelit Good Friday Way of the Cross led by Pope Benedict XVI makes its way through the Colosseum in Rome April 10.

CNS | ALESSIA PIERDOMENICO, REUTERS
ROME | A candlelit Good Friday Way of the Cross led by Pope Benedict XVI makes its way through the Colosseum in Rome April 10.

A pilgrim holds a cross inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during the Good Friday Way of the Cross in Jerusalem’s Old City April 10.

CNS | BAZ RATNER, REUTERS
JERUSALEM | A pilgrim holds a cross inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during the Good Friday Way of the Cross in Jerusalem’s Old City April 10.

ROME | A cross is seen in front of the ancient Colosseum before the start of the Good Friday Way of the Cross in Rome April 10.
CNS | MAX ROSSI, REUTERS

A woman holds a rosary and crucifix as she prays during the Good Friday Way of the Cross in New York April 10. The Christian procession recounting the passion of Jesus made its way through midtown Manhattan.

CNS | STEPHEN CHERNIN, REUTERS
NEW YORK | A woman holds a rosary and crucifix as she prays during the Good Friday Way of the Cross in New York April 10. The Christian procession recounting the passion of Jesus made its way through midtown Manhattan.

A penitent cries as nails are removed from his palms after being nailed on a wooden cross in a Good Friday ritual in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines, April 10.

CNS | PETER ANDREWS, REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines | A penitent cries as nails are removed from his palms after being nailed on a wooden cross in a Good Friday ritual in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines, April 10.

Members of the Italian Catholic community of Bensheim take part in a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday in southwest Germany April 10. Thousands of spectators watched the yearly Passion play performed by about 100 lay actors.

CNS | KAI PFAFFENBACH, REUTERS
FRANKFURT, Germany | Members of the Italian Catholic community of Bensheim take part in a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday in southwest Germany April 10. Thousands of spectators watched the yearly Passion play performed by about 100 lay actors.

A penitent dressed as Jesus carries a cross during a Good Friday reenactment of the passion and crucifixion of Jesus in Mumbai, India, April 10.

CNS | PUNIT PARANJPE, REUTERS
MUMBAI, India | A penitent dressed as Jesus carries a cross during a Good Friday reenactment of the passion and crucifixion of Jesus in Mumbai, India, April 10.

A black–hooded penitent carries a portrait of Jesus during a Good Friday procession through the streets of Romont, Switzerland, April 10. The procession, known as “Les Pleureuses,” which means “the mourners,” dates to the 15th century.

CNS | DENIS BALIBOUSE, REUTERS
RAMONT, Switzerland | A black–hooded penitent carries a portrait of Jesus during a Good Friday procession through the streets of Romont, Switzerland, April 10. The procession, known as “Les Pleureuses,” which means “the mourners,” dates to the 15th century.

Members of the Italian Catholic community of Bensheim take part in a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday in Frankfurt, Germany, April 10. Thousands of spectators watched the yearly Passion play performed by about 100 lay actors

CNS | KAI PFAFFENBACH, REUTERS
FRANKFURT, Germany | Members of the Italian Catholic community of Bensheim take part in a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday in Frankfurt, Germany, April 10. Thousands of spectators watched the yearly Passion play performed by about 100 lay actors.

A Mexican penitent wear chains during a Holy Week procession through the streets of Taxco, Mexico, April 9. Hundreds of penitents, bound and flagellating themselves, wound through the labyrinth cobblestone streets of Taxco.

CNS | HENRY ROMERO, REUTERS
TAXCO, Mexico | A Mexican penitent wear chains during a Holy Week procession through the streets of Taxco, Mexico, April 9. Hundreds of penitents, bound and flagellating themselves, wound through the labyrinth cobblestone streets of Taxco.

CNS | SIVARAM V., REUTERS
MALAYATOOR, India | A Christian pilgrim carries a wooden cross on Good Friday to a church in Malayatoor, India, April 10.

A masked penitent carries thorny boughs on his shoulders during a procession on Good Friday through the streets of Taxco, Mexico, April 10. Hundreds of penitents, bound and flagellating themselves, wound through the labyrinth cobblestone streets of Taxco.

CNS | HENRY ROMERO, REUTERS
TAXCO, Mexico | A masked penitent carries thorny boughs on his shoulders during a procession on Good Friday through the streets of Taxco, Mexico, April 10. Hundreds of penitents, bound and flagellating themselves, wound through the labyrinth cobblestone streets of Taxco.

Cardinal Andre Vingt–Trois of Paris carries a cross in the gardens of the Sacre Coeur Basilica during a Good Friday Stations of the Cross service in Paris April 10. Several thousand people participated in the uphill procession remembering the crucifixion of Jesus.

CNS | CHARLES PILTIAU, REUTERS
PARIS | Cardinal Andre Vingt–Trois of Paris carries a cross in the gardens of the Sacre Coeur Basilica during a Good Friday Stations of the Cross service in Paris April 10. Several thousand people participated in the uphill procession remembering the crucifixion of Jesus.

CNS | DARREN WHITESIDE, REUTERS
JERUSALEM | Worshippers carry a cross during a Good Friday procession on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem April 10.

ROME | Pope Benedict XVI washes the feet of a priest during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in Rome’s Basilica of St. John Lateran April 9.
CNS | ALESSIA PIERDOMENICO, REUTERS

Catholic clergy process with candles during the Holy Thursday liturgy at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem April 9. The traditional feet–washing ceremony took place at the liturgy in memory of Jesus’ service to his apostles before his suffering and death.

CNS | AMMAR AWAD, REUTERS
JERUSALEM | Catholic clergy process with candles during the Holy Thursday liturgy at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem April 9. The traditional feet–washing ceremony took place at the liturgy in memory of Jesus’ service to his apostles before his suffering and death.