View source for Pope Francis Leads Easter Prayers In The Vatican

Pope Francis led prayers to celebrate Easter today as thousands of pilgrims packed Jerusalem to mark Good Friday after Covid restrictions were eased following the success of Israel's vaccine roll-out.<br>The Pope laid down in prayer at the Good Friday Mass for the Passion of the Lord at St.<br><br>Peter's Basilica in the Vatican today as Christians across the world celebrated.<br>Jerusalem's holy sites, which tens of thousands of Christians were barred from attending last Easter, were reopened, although remaining travel restrictions meant numbers were limited. <br>The masses - many wearing face masks - flooded down the Via Dolorosa towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as they carried crosses to commemorate the route that Jesus walked to his crucifixion. <br>In the Vatican, which is subject to strict social distancing rules, Pope Francis had earlier visited a vaccination centre where volunteers have spent the past week administering some 1,200 doses of the Pfizer jab to the poor and homeless. <br>In Australia, which has had very few coronavirus cases, worshippers took to the streets of Sydney for processions of the cross and were able to gather inside churches without wearing masks.<br>Catholic devotees in the Philippines flouted restrictions to whip themselves bloody during self-flagellation rituals to remember how Christ was beaten by the Romans before his execution. <br>The virus is still raging throughout much of Europe where services were constrained by lockdown rules.<br>Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez relaxed the rules today so that people would be allowed to sing In Spain, while in the Czech Republic a newly-imposed lockdown meant congregations were limited to ten per cent.<br>The fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris remained closed after Emmanuel Macron imposed a third national lockdown, while a lone crucifix standing in London's Trafalgar Square was the only sign of the holy day in Britain's heavily-restricted capital. <br>         VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis lies down in prayer prior to celebrate Good Friday Mass for the Passion of the Lord at St.<br><br>Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, April 2<br>         VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis presides over the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) ceremony in St.<br><br>Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Friday<br>         VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis celebrates Good Friday Mass for the Passion of the Lord on April 2, 2021 at St.<br><br>Peter's Basilica in the Vatican<br>         VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis lies down in prayer prior to celebrate Good Friday Mass for the Passion of the Lord today<br>       VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis leans his forehead against the cross during the Veneration of the Cross as he celebrates Good Friday Mass<br>         VATICAN CITY: Children and young people of Rome observe the Stations of the Cross during the celebration of the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) led by Pope Francis as part of Good Friday<br>         VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis prays as he celebrates the Mass for the Passion of Christ, at St.<br><br>Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Friday, April 2<br>                ISRAEL: The masses - wearing face masks - flooded down the Via [http://www.fin24.com/Search/News?queryString=Dolorosa Dolorosa] towards the the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as they carried crosses to commemorate the route that Jesus walked to his crucifixion<br>         IRELAND: People take part in a Solemn Procession on Good Friday at the Papal Cross in Dublin's Phoenix Park, as churches remain closed due to coronavirus restrictions<br>         ISRAEL: Christians walk down the Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering) in Jerusalem after restrictions were eased following the tremendous success of the country's vaccine roll-out<br>         ISRAEL: Christian worshippers take part in a Good Friday procession along the Via Dolorosa amid eased coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions, during Easter Holy Week in Jerusalem's Old City<br>         VATICAN CITY: The Pope visits a vaccination centre in the Paul VI Hall where the poor and homeless are being inoculated<br>          more videos    [#     ]   [# 1]   [# 2]   [# 3]   [#     ]          [/video/news/video-2389216/Boris-says-vaccine-passports-needed-international-travel.html   Watch video  Boris: Vaccine passports will be needed to go on holiday in future<br>  ]   [/video/news/video-2390308/Video-Large-gathering-Cardiff-Bay-party-amid-lockdown-easing.html   Watch video  Large gathering at Cardiff Bay party amid lockdown easing<br>  ]   [/video/news/video-2390316/Video-Restaurant-calls-cops-group-25-wanted-separate-checks.html   Watch video  Restaurant calls cops on group of 25 who all wanted separate checks<br>  ]   [/video/news/video-2390182/Video-Londoners-enjoy-sunny-Easter-Bank-Holiday-Finsbury-Park.html   Watch video  Londoners enjoy sunny Easter Bank Holiday at Finsbury Park<br>  ]       [/video/news/video-2390256/Video-Emergency-workers-respond-driver-rams-barrier-Capitol.html   Watch video  Emergency workers respond after driver rams barrier at US Capitol<br>  ]   [/video/news/video-2389098/Video-Nessie-hunter-spots-mysterious-black-shape-surface-water.html   Watch video  Nessie hunter spots mysterious black shape across surface of water<br>  ]   [/video/news/video-2390072/Video-Big-dog-steals-spotlight-live-Russian-TV-weather-report.html   Watch video  Big dog steals the spotlight during live Russian TV weather report<br>  ]   [/video/news/video-2390378/Video-International-travel-resume-slowly-face-Covid-variants.html   Watch video  International travel 'should resume slowly' in face of Covid variants<br>  ]       [/video/news/video-2389504/Video-Wife-politician-appears-naked-parliamentary-zoom-meeting.html   Watch video  Wife of politician appears naked in parliamentary zoom meeting<br>  ]   [/video/news/video-2389720/Video-Matt-Hancock-pledges-funding-research-long-Covid.html   Watch video  Matt Hancock pledges more funding for research into long Covid<br>  ]   [/video/news/video-2390020/Video-Labour-MP-confronts-issues-domestic-vaccine-passports.html   Watch video  Labour MP confronts issues on domestic vaccine passports<br>  ]   [/video/news/video-2390176/Video-Coronavirus-numbers-UK-death-toll-reaches-126-816.html   Watch video  Coronavirus in numbers: UK death toll reaches 126,816<br>  ]        <br><br>DM.later('bundle', function()<br>DM.molFeCarousel.init('#p-40', 'channelCarousel', <br>"activeClass" : "wocc",<br>"pageCount" : "3.0",<br>"pageSize" : 1,<br>"onPos": 0,<br>"updateStyleOnHover": true<br>);<br>);<br>ISRAEL: Christians carry a large wooden cross down the Via Dolorosa amid loosened covid restrictions following the success of the country's vaccine programme<br>         PHILIPPINES: A man whips himself bloody to mark Good Friday, the day of Jesus' crucifixion, on the streets of Manila<br>         FRANCE: Archbishop Monseigneur Aupetit (C-L) performs during the Stations of the Cross ceremony as part the Good Friday procession at the Sacre-Coeur (sacred heart) basilica atop Montmartre overlooking Paris<br>                INDONESIA: A Catholic plays the role of Jesus during a Good Friday celebration outside a church in Pekanbaru<br>         SRI LANKA: Soldiers patrol outside the St.<br><br>Lucia's Cathedral during the Good Friday mass in Colombo. The city was rocked by Islamist attacks on churches on Easter Sunday in 2019<br>         BRITAIN: The choir performs whilst observing social distancing during the Good Friday morning choral service, which took place without members of the public present due to Covid-19 regulations, at Truro Cathedral<br>         PHILIPPINES: Catholics whip themselves across their bloodied backs on the streets of Manila as they flout Covid rules to mark Good Friday<br>         INDIA: Catholics re-enact the crucifixion, with men dressed as Romans surrounding Jesus at Saint Mary's Bethany Convent in Hyderabad<br>         ISRAEL: Women are seen wearing masks as they carry a wooden cross through the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is built on the site where Jesus was crucified <br>         CZECH REPUBLIC: eople wearing masks and respirators and pushing wooden rattles walk through the streets during an Easter procession on Good Friday in the city of Ceske Budejovice<br>         AUSTRALIA: A man portraying Jesus carrying a cross during a Good Friday Crucifixion Walk, in Martin Place, Sydney<br>         SPAIN: People play drums outside their home as part of Good Friday's 'Rompida de la Hora' (Breaking of the hour), after annual Holy Week processions were cancelled due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Calanda<br>Last year, Jerusalem was under a strict lockdown, with sacred rites observed by small groups of priests, often behind closed doors.<br>This year, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead, is open to visitors and expecting a few dozen.<br>After the morning prayer service they will retrace Jesus' final steps along the Via Dolorosa.<br>'Things are open, but cautiously and gradually,' said Wadie Abunassar, an adviser to church leaders in the Holy Land.<br>'In regular years we urge people to come out.<br><br>Last year we told people to stay at home... This year we are somehow silent.'<br>   RELATED ARTICLES  [# Previous] [# 1] [# Next]     [/news/article-9429949/UK-set-milder-53F-today-parks-brace-onslaught-visitors-start-Easter-break.html   UK records lowest cases since SEPTEMBER as Britons head to... ] [/news/article-9426977/Met-Police-officer-22-guilty-belonging-banned-neo-Nazi-terror-group-National-Action.html   Pictured with a Hitler moustache, the neo-Nazi who joined... ] [/news/article-9429813/Backlash-Boris-vaccine-passport-plan-PM-faces-LOSING-crunch-vote.html   Backlash over Boris's vaccine passport plan: 41 Tories join... ] [/news/article-9428893/Royal-expert-shocks-Today-host-comments-Meghan-Markle.html   Lady Colin Campbell accuses Meghan of 'playing the race card... ] [/news/article-9428665/Covid-passport-trials-begin-Boris-Johnson-set-unveil-test-scheme-venues-Monday.html   Boris Johnson to unveil vaccine passport trial 'starting... ] [/news/article-9428129/Mounted-police-TRAMPLE-people-turning-water-cannons-others.html   Belgian mounted police TRAMPLE revellers with their horses... ]    <br><br><br><br>Share this article<br>Share<br>1k shares<br><br><br>Israel has launched one of the world's most successful vaccination campaigns, allowing it to reopen restaurants, hotels and religious sites.<br>But air travel is still limited by quarantine and other restrictions, keeping away the foreign pilgrims who usually throng Jerusalem during Holy Week.<br>The main holy sites are in the Old City in east Jerusalem, which Israel captured along with the West Bank in the 1967 war.<br>Israel annexed east Jerusalem and considers the entire city its unified capital, while the Palestinians want both territories for their future state.<br>Israel included Palestinian residents of Jerusalem in its vaccination campaign, but has only provided a small number of vaccines to those in the occupied West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority has imported tens of thousands of doses for a population of more than 2.5 million.<br>         INDONESIA: In the wake of a church attack in South Sulawesi on March 28, soldiers and personnel carriers sit parked outside the St.<br><br>Mary of the Assumption Cathedral during Mass on Good Friday<br>         NIGERIA: Parishioners wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus take part in a Stations of the Cross service during the Good Friday service, at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos<br>         IRELAND: Fr Declan Kelly, Curate of Church Ss.<br><br>Peter & Paul in Dunboyne, Co. Meath, carries a crucifix in preparation for the Celebration of the Lord's Passion service on Good Friday<br>         INDIA: Catholics offer prayers as they take part in a procession to re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday in Chennai<br>         JERUSALEM: Christians take part in a procession of the cross along the Via Dolorosa on Good Friday<br>         PHILIPPINES: A man lies across the ground in Manila to be whipped during Catholic Good Friday celebrations<br>         BRITAIN: A crucifix placed in Trafalgar Square, in locked-down London, on Good Friday, for the Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary<br>         PHILIPPINES: A Catholic lies across the road, his back bloodied from self-flagellation, a Good Friday ritual in the Philippines<br>         AUSTRALIA: A Catholic man acting the part of Jesus takes part in celebrations on Martin Place on Friday<br>         SPAIN: Devotees attend the Church of 'La O' to visit the Jesus Nazareno and the Virgin of La O during the celebrations for the Good Friday in Seville.<br><br>The PM relaxed rules today so that congregants would be allowed to sing<br>         CZECH REPUBLIC: People wearing masks and respirators and pushing wooden rattles walk through the streets during an Easter procession on Good Friday<br>         PHILIPPINES: A man whips himself across the back as children watch on during Good Friday celebrations in Manila<br>         INDIA: A Christian takes part in a re-enactment of the crucifixion in Hyderabad on Good Friday<br>         INDONESIA: An armed policeman stands guard as nuns walk to church in the Muslim-majority country on the resort island  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-bali-tour-du-lich-bali-indonesia-4-ngay-3-dem-tu-ha-noi-tu-sai-gon-hcm-may-bay.html kynghidongduong.vn] of Bali<br>         INDONESIA: A man playing a role of Jesus Christ is tied to a cross during a [http://www.wordreference.com/definition/performance performance] outside a church on Good Friday, amid the pandemic in Pekanbaru, Riau Province<br>Israeli authorities said up to 5,000 Christian Palestinians from the West Bank would be permitted to enter for Easter celebrations.<br>Abunassar said he was not aware of any large [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-bali-tour-du-lich-bali-indonesia-4-ngay-3-dem-tu-ha-noi-tu-sai-gon-hcm-may-bay.html tour du lịch bali] groups from the West Bank planning to enter, as in years past, likely reflecting concerns about the virus.<br>Abunassar said most Christians in the region celebrate Holy Week in their local parishes.<br><br>The Good Friday services in the Old City are only expected to draw a small number of people, mainly priests and foreigners who reside in the Holy Land.<br>At the Vatican, Holy Week events are being celebrated before limited numbers of masked faithful to respect COVID-19 health and social distancing norms.<br>         ISRAEL: Men carry the cross along the Via Dolorosa, the path that Jesus walked towards his crucifixion, towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many to be the site where Jesus was crucified <br>         ISRAEL: A pilgrim carries a cross along the Via Dolorosa towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as a man wearing an Arab headdress walks in the foreground<br>         GERMANY:  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-bali-tour-du-lich-bali-indonesia-4-ngay-3-dem-tu-ha-noi-tu-sai-gon-hcm-may-bay.html tour bali giá rẻ] A minister leads a socially-distanced service at the Protestant Berlin Cathedral on Good Friday<br>         ISRAEL: Christian worshippers take part in a Good Friday procession along the Via Dolorosa amid eased coronavirus restrictions<br>         AUSTRALIA: Nuns take part in a service at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney on Friday<br>         INDIA: A congregation marks Good Friday at All Saints' Cathedral in Allahabad<br>         CZECH REPUBLIC: People wearing white masks during a Catholic procession through the city of Ceske Budejovice on Good Friday<br>         SOUTH AFRICA: Members of The Golden Apostolic Faith Healing Mission Church pray during a religious ceremony to celebrate Good Friday in Soweto<br>         PHILIPPINES: Barefoot men flagellate themselves across their blooded backs on the streets of Manila on Good Friday<br>         ISRAEL: Christian worshippers take part in a Good Friday procession along the Via Dolorosa amid eased coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions, during Easter Holy Week in Jerusalem's Old City<br>         AUSTRALIA: Worshippers at the St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney where there are no restrictions on church services<br>         INDONESIA: Soldiers stand guard while people have their temperatures scanned outside St.<br><br>Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Jakarta<br>         INDIA: A woman reaches out to touch a figure of Christ on the cross during a service in Chennai on Good Friday<br>In France, a nationwide 7pm curfew is forcing parishes to move Good Friday ceremonies forward in the day, as the traditional Catholic night processions are being drastically scaled back or cancelled.<br>Nineteen departments in France are on localized lockdowns, where parishioners can attend daytime Mass if they sign the government´s 'travel certificate.'<br>Although a third lockdown 'light' is being imposed Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron has wavered on a travel ban for Easter weekend, allowing the French to drive between regions to meet up with family on Friday. <br>Fire-ravaged Notre Dame will not hold a Good Friday mass this year, but the cathedral´s 'Crown of Thorns' will be venerated by the cathedral´s clergy at its new temporary liturgical hub in the nearby church of Saint-Germain-l´Auxerrois. <br>         INDONESIA: Men playing Roman soldiers and a man acting the role of Jesus outside a church in Pekanbaru during a Catholic celebration of Good Friday<br>         INDIA: A woman reads an order of service at St.<br><br>Joseph's Cathedral in Prayagraj on Good Friday<br>         GERMANY: Worshippers wearing masks bow their heads during a service at the Protestant Berlin Cathedral<br>         INDIA: A woman kneels and prays at St.<br><br>Joseph's Cathedral in Prayagraj on Friday<br>         PHILIPPINES: Barefoot flagellants whip their bloodied backs as penance outside a closed church, defying government orders to avoid religious gatherings and stay home to curb the spread of the coronavirus<br>         PHILIPPINES: The replica of the Black Nazarene is taken on a pickup truck around a village to mark Good Friday in Quezon City, Metro Manila<br>In the Philippines, streets were eerily quiet and religious gatherings were prohibited in the capital, Manila, and four outlying provinces.<br>The government placed the bustling region of more than 25 million people back under lockdown this week as it scrambled to contain an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases.<br>The Philippines had started to reopen in hopes of stemming a severe economic crisis, but infections surged last month, apparently because of more contagious strains, increased public mobility and complacency.<br>In Australia, masked churchgoers sat in rows of socially distanced chairs at a street in Sydney as actor Timothy Watkins carried a cross in his portrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ during a Good Friday observance.<br>