Easter Sunday around the world – in pictures

Rome, Italy: The pope delivers his Easter blessing at St Peter's Basilica Photograph: Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis

Jerusalem: Catholic clergymen hold candles in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA

Rakovski, Bulgaria: Catholic women attend an Easter vigil mass in the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Georgia, USA: A Methodist pastor raises his arms as he delivers a sermon at sunrise atop Stone Mountain Photograph: Erik S. Lesser/Epa

Lahore, Pakistan: Christians hold candles during an Easter vigil mass Photograph: K.M. Chaudary/AP

Ivenets, Belarus: Catholics take part in a procession Photograph: Viktor Drachev/AFP/Getty Images

Jerusalem: Orthodox Christians pray and light candles on a stone slab Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA

Manila, Philippines: Catholics join a procession to celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection at dawn Photograph: Cheryl Ravelo/Reuters

Jerusalem: Traditional consular guards, known as kawas, wait for the start of a procession in the Church of Holy Sepulchre Photograph: Darren Whiteside/Reuters

Bucharest, Romania: A boy shields his eyes from the sun during an Orthodox pilgrimage Photograph: Vadim Ghirda/AP

Jerusalem: An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian woman at the chapel of the Deir Sultan monastery Photograph: Abir Sultan/EPA

Madrid, Spain: Drummers in a procession Photograph: Alberto Di Lolli/AP

Rome, Italy: St Peter's Square during the Easter mass Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

Jerusalem: An Orthodox Christian clergyman carries a branch of an olive tree as he enters the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA

Lilongwe, Malawi: Women pray and sing during an outdoor service Photograph: Stephane De Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images

Dragului, Romania: Women bring incense and flowers to the graves of relatives Photograph: Radu Sigheti/Reuters

Jerusalem: Ethiopian Orthodox Christian children beat drums and sing at the Deir Sultan monastery Photograph: Abir Sultan/EPA

Ralbitz, Germany: Men of the Sorbian community pass a cemetery on horseback Photograph: Gero Breloer/AP

Jerusalem: Members of the Syriac Orthodox church pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Photograph: Gali Tibbon/AFP/Getty Images

Jammu, India: A Christian worshipper yawns during prayers at St. Mary's Garrison church Photograph: Channi Anand/AP