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Vatican

Pope condemns deadly attack on Syrian convoy in Easter message

Referring to the blast near Aleppo which killed more than 100 people, Francis said Syrians were the "victims of a war that does not cease to sow horror and death."

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Christians light candles with holy fire

Thousands of Christian worshippers attended the ceremony of Easter’s Holy Fire on Saturday (April 15) at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and lit their candles with holy fire from Jesus’…

Egypt

Tight security for Easter at Egypt's Christian churches

Easter means tight security for the Christian minority in Egypt, who are marking the occasion in sombre mood after last week’s murderous attacks on Coptic…

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Sikhs in Pakistan celebrate Besakhi festival

Hundreds of Sikh pilgrims from around the globe converged on a temple in northwestern Pakistan to celebrate one of the most important festivals in the Sikh…

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Italy

Good Friday: Pope leads 'Way of the Cross' service at Colosseum

Pope Francis raised the themes of shame and hope as he led the traditional ‘Way of the Cross’ service at Rome’s Colosseum, late on Good Friday.

Pakistan

Pakistan 'blasphemy killing': murdered student 'devoted to Islam'

Mashal Khan was beaten to death after being accused of blasphemy. But people who knew him say he openly professed devotion to Islam.

Spain

Holy Week horror in Spain

At least eight people have reportedly been arrested after a series of stampedes at Easter processions in Spain.

World News

Good Friday marked across the world

Good Friday events have been taking place across the globe to mark the Bible’s account of Christ’s crucifixion.

Pakistan

Student lynched over "blasphemy"

A student at Abdul Wali Khan University, in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has been attacked and brutally murdered by a mob after reportedly being accused of…

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Filipino Catholics crucify themselves in a biblical reenactment

Catholic devotees were nailed to wooden crosses in a reenactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion

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Jews attend holy wall for Passover prayers

Hundreds of Jews gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Thursday (April 13) to attend a special ‘Priestly Blessing’ prayer on the holiday of Passover.

Vatican

Pope washes prisoners' feet in Holy Week ritual

Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of inmates at a jail housing Mafia turncoats on Thursday, again putting his own stamp on a traditional Holy Week ritual.

Ukraine

Kyiv: giant eggs exhibited in open-air Easter extravaganza

The Ukrainian capital is gearing up for Easter with a huge open-air exhibition across two city centre squares.

Spain

Seville's Semana Santa Christian parades

It’s Holy Week in Seville when the city’s 61 Christian brotherhoods parade through the streets on their way to the cathedral.

World News

How do Europe's Christians celebrate Maundy Thursday?

In the week before Easter Sunday there are a variety of lesser-known holy days across Europe, including Maundy Thursday.

World News

Christians in Jerusalem celebrate Holy Thursday

Christians celebrate Holy Thursday in Jerusalem, just days after two deadly attacks on churches in neighbouring Egypt.

Philippines

Filipino Catholics perform bloody ritual

Hundreds of Catholics in the Philippines are celebrating the pre-Easter festival Maundy Thursday.

Italy

Berlusconi features in vegetarian video campaign and 'saves' five lambs

Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has angered Italy’s meat industry by featuring in a campaign run by the Italian League in Defence of Animals, urging people to “choose a vegetarian…

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CCTV footage shows church explosion

A closed-circuit television video released by Egypt’s Interior Ministry shows the dramatic moment an ISIS suicide bomber approached and blew up Saint Mark’s Cathedral, a Coptic church in…

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Palm Sunday in Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre

Worshippers gathered at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to mark Palm Sunday, waving palm branches during the procession next to the newly restored Tomb of…