The Pope is still recovering from double pneumonia. Television screens have been installed in St. Peters Square for pilgrims to watch proceedings. Good Friday is the culmination of Lent for Roman Catholics and the start of the Easter weekend, capping off the holy week which started on Palm Sunday.

The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican, in Italy, began the city’s busiest holiday season with a celebrations including Easter and the most important Christian holiday on Sunday. Most responsibilities have been delegated to senior cardinals as Pope Francis is still recovering. This is what people had to say.

“I read at some point that, if Pope Francis at any time, wasn’t feeling like he was able to serve to the church, he would be, you know, willing to take a step down. But, I mean, if he is still here, I guess he’s feeling fine enough to be around”, said one pilgrim.

 

Another pilgrim shared their hope during this time, “Yeah, it’s a really exciting experience because we are from the US [and] we were hoping to maybe experience with Pope Francis and what not, but you, his health is a priority and it’s still been an amazing experience. It still feels very spiritual”, said the pilgrim.
 
In Ukraine, members of the Christian community, including Orthodox believers, also marked the day, inspire of the chaos caused after a Russian drone hit a bakery where Easter cakes were being prepared, in the north of the country. One man is reported to have died in the incident. Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, Israel, believers took part in a procession alongside the Old City's Dolorosa, retracing what they believe is the route Jesus Christ took to his crucifixion. To pay his respects, United States (US) Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, visited the Western Wall, with his visit to Judaism's holiest prayer site took place on the last weekend of the Passover holiday.

“What an honour it is for me to come on behalf of the President of the United States, President Donald Trump and to present the prayer that he hand wrote, gave to me last Thursday at the White House. With the instruction and first act as the Anmbassador, would be to take his prayer, praying for the peace of Jerusalem and to bring it to the wall and to pray that there would be peace in the land”, Huckabee said.

In India, Christians participated in processions and offered prayers. Francis Swaminathan is a Christian Priest in India.

“It’s a great day for all the Christians as we celebrate this day and we thank God for the great gift of His Son to us and through His sacrifice, we [are] made once again, children of God. We have been brought again to reconcile with God”, Swaminathan said.

In the United Kingdom, British King Charles the third attended the service in Durham Cathedral in England.

---SABC---