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Christians Around the Globe Celebrate Easter

   VOA News 04 April 2010
   Pope  Benedict  XVI,  next  to  cardinal  Angelo  Comastri,  holds his
   pastoral  staff during the Easter Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the
   World)  blessing  from  the  balcony  of  St.  Peter's Basilica at the
   Vatican, 4 Apr 2010

Photo: AP

   Pope  Benedict  XVI,  next  to  cardinal  Angelo  Comastri,  holds his
   pastoral  staff during the Easter Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the
   World)  blessing  from  the  balcony  of  St.  Peter's Basilica at the
   Vatican, 4 Apr 2010

   Hundreds  of  millions  of Christians around the world are celebrating
   Easter  Sunday  with  church  services, prayers and music ranging from
   rock to ancient and traditional hymns.
   Easter  is  the  most  sacred  date  on  the  Christian  calendar  and
   commemorates  the Christian belief of the resurrection of Jesus Christ
   three days after his death.
   Pilgrims  from  around the world converged on holy places in Jerusalem
   to  celebrate  Easter  Sunday.   It  was a bigger turnout than usual,
   because  for  the  first  time  in years, Eastern Orthodox and Western
   churches are celebrating Easter at the same time.
   During  his  traditional  Easter message Sunday morning in St. Peter's
   Square, Pope Benedict urged humanity to undergo a "spiritual and moral
   conversion."Â Â   The Roman Catholic leader also decried the suffering
   of Christians in Iraq and elsewhere because of religious persecution.
   The pope did not refer to the clergy abuse cover-up scandals. Â
   On Saturday, the pope led the world's Catholics with a late-night mass
   at St. Peter's Basilica. Â
   About  2,500  Israeli  police and soldiers were deployed in and around
   Jerusalem's Old City to provide security for Easter events.
   Also  on  Saturday,  tens  of thousands of Orthodox Christians carried
   candles  and  torches to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to take part
   in their holy fire ritual.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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