Christians in the Holy Land and across the world are celebrating Easter, commemorating the day followers believe Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis presided over a solemn vigil service Saturday night. In his homily, Francis said the Easter mystery requires the faithful to seek an answer “to the questions which challenge our faith, our fidelity, and our very existence.”
Take a look at how Easter was celebrated in various parts of the world:
Faithful wait in the rain for Pope Francis’ arrival to the Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2015.
Pope Francis salutes faithful in St. Peter’s square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2015. AP
SOUTH KOREA
South Korean Christians participate in an annual Easter service rally at Yeonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 5, 2015. About 10,000 participants prayed for peace and the nuclear-free Korean peninsula. AP
South Korean Catholics buy eggs to celebrate Easter at Myungdong Cathedral in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 5, 2015. AP
POLAND
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A man carrying baskets with food samples to be traditionally blessed, entesr the St. Stanislaw Kostka church in Warsaw, Poland,Saturday, April 4, 2015, as Catholics in Poland prepare for Easter Sunday, the most important religious holiday for them. AP
A woman kisses a Cross as people gather carrying baskets with food samples to be traditionally blessed in the St. Stanislaw Kostka church in Warsaw, Poland,Saturday, April 4, 2015. Catholics in Poland prepare for Easter Sunday, the most important religious holiday for them. AP
PHILIPPINES
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A Filipino baby plays on a bike as people hit swim in the polluted waters of Manila’s bay, Philippines as they celebrate Easter Sunday April 5, 2015. Despite a city-imposed swimming ban, many poor Filipinos swam along the bay to cool themselves from the summer’s sweltering heat. AP
Filipinos swim in the polluted waters of Manila’s bay, Philippines as they celebrate Easter Sunday April 5, 2015. Despite a city-imposed swimming ban, many Filipinos set up makeshift tents and swam along the bay to cool themselves from summer’s sweltering heat. AP
PAKISTAN
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Christians pray during Easter service at St. Oswald’s Church in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, April 5, 2015. Christians across the world are celebrating Easter, commemorating the day followers believe Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago. AP
A Christian woman holds her child while she prays during Easter service at St. Oswald’s Church in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, April 5, 2015. Christians across the world are celebrating Easter, commemorating the day followers believe Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago. AP
KOSOVO
A crucifix is held by a young priest during the Easter Vigil mass at Mother Teresa Cathedral in Kosovo capital Pristina Saturday, April 4, 2015 as Catholics prepare for Easter Sunday, the most important religious holiday for the worshippers. AP
Worshippers hold candles during the Easter Vigil mass at Mother Teresa Cathedral in Kosovo capital Pristina Saturday, April 4, 2015 as Catholics prepare for Easter Sunday, the most important religious holiday for them. AP
KENYA
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Kenyan Christians sing during a morning service at Holy Family Basilica, Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, April 5, 2015, during Easter Sunday when Christians celebrate the resurrection of their Lord, Jesus Christ, according to Scripture after his crucifixion on the cross. Special prayers were held Sunday for the victims of the recent Garissa University Attack, when Al-Shabab gunmen rampaged through the university in northeastern Kenya on Thursday, killing scores of people. AP
A Kenyan Christian child in prayer as he joins a morning service at Holy Family Basilica, Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, April 5, 2015, during Easter Sunday when Christians celebrate the resurrection of their Lord, Jesus Christ, according to Scripture after his crucifixion on the cross. Special prayers were held Sunday for the victims of the recent Garissa University Attack, when Al-Shabab gunmen rampaged through the university in northeastern Kenya on Thursday, killing scores of people. AP
ISRAEL
Greek Orthodox women pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ during Orthodox Palm Sunday, in Jerusalem, Sunday, April 5, 2015. Christians in the Holy Land and across the world are celebrating Easter, commemorating the day followers believe Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. AP
Ethiopian Orthodox Christian women pray at Deir El Sultan outside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, during Orthodox Palm Sunday, in Jerusalem, Sunday, April 5, 2015. Christians in the Holy Land and across the world are celebrating Easter, commemorating the day followers believe Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. AP
INDONESIA
Jakarta Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo (C) greets parishioners after celebrating the Easter Sunday mass at the Jakarta cathedral on April 5, 2015. In a statement he delivered to journalists after the mass, Indonesia’s Roman Catholic church leader Archbishop Suharyo reiterated the position of the church against the death penalty. AFP
INDIA
Indian Christians receive Holy Communion from a priest after Easter mass at a Church in Mumbai, India, Sunday, April 5, 2015. Christians around the world are celebrating Easter commemorating the day when according to Christian tradition Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem two millennia ago. AP
A man plays the accordion after easter mass at a Church in Mumbai, India, Sunday, April 5, 2015. Christians around the world are celebrating Easter commemorating the day when according to Christian tradition Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem two millennia ago. AP
HUNGARY
Crosses at a war memorial stand in front of the dawning sky at Muhi, 167 kms northeast of Budapest, Hungary, on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015. AP
GREAT BRITAIN
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (C) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (L) arrive for the Easter Sunday church service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, west of London, on April 5, 2015. AFP
Britain’s Sophie, Countess of Wessex, (L) Autumn Philips (C) and Britain’s Princess Beatrice of York, (R) arrive for the Easter Sunday church service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, west of London, on April 5, 2015. AFP
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