Easter week around the world – in pictures

Jersualem: Catholic nuns take part in the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives to the Old City Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images

Damascus, Syria: A woman and child attend mass at al-Zitoun church Photograph: Khaled Al-hariri/Reuters

Malaga, Spain: The actor Antonio Banderas takes part in a Palm Sunday procession Photograph: Reuters

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: People hold palm fronds during mass at the site of an earthquake-damaged cathedral Photograph: Ramon Espinosa/AP

Seville, Spain: Girls wear traditional black mantillas for a children's procession at Our Lady of the Rosary school Photograph: Cristina Quicler/AFP/Getty Images

Taipei, Taiwan: An actor portraying Jesus Christ takes part in a re-enactment of the stations of the cross Photograph: Pichi Chuang/Reuters

Saalfeld, Germany: Volker Kraft decorates a tree with 10,000 Easter eggs in his garden. The Kraft family have been decorating their tree for Easter for more than 40 years Photograph: Jens Meyer/AP

Seville, Spain: A penitent of La Candelaria brotherhood waits after the brotherhood's governing body decided penance could not be carried out in the streets due to rain Photograph: Marcelo del Pozo/Reuters

Guatemala City, Guatemala: Men dressed for a procession that has taken place annually for the past 117 years Photograph: Jorge Dan Lopez/Reuters

Zamora, Spain: Penitents from the Cristo de la Buena Muerte brotherhood take part in a procession Photograph: Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP

London, UK: Priests wear their new clerical vestments before the annual Chrism mass in Westminster Cathedral Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Seville, Spain: Penitents from La Candelaria brotherhood shelter from rain Photograph: Emilio Morenatti/AP

Pampagna, Philippines: A penitent whips himself at a church compound. The Catholic church in the Philippines urged people to refrain from self-flagellation, but many Catholic faithful continued to do so as a form of repentance for their sins Photograph: Rolex Dela Pena/EPA

Jersualem: Catholic pilgrims pray during the Holy Thursday mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre ahead of Easter celebrations Photograph: Gali Tibbon/AFP/Getty Images

Zamora, Spain: Penitents of the Cofradía de la Virgen de la Esperanza cross the Puente de Piedra during a Holy Week procession of the Cofradía de la Virgen de la Esperanza Photograph: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

San Fernando, Philippines: Hooded barefoot penitents perform self-flagellation to atone for their sins. On Good Friday Filipinos re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in some parts of the country Photograph: Erik De Castro/Reuters

Málaga, Spain: Soldiers of the Spanish Legion carry the figure of the Christ of the Good Death, on Holy Thursday. This is one of the highlights in Málaga, as numerous Spanish legionnaires travel from Melilla, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, to carry the wooden figure of the Christ Photograph: Jorge Zapata/EPA

Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI arrives for mass in Saint Peter's Basilica Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters

London, UK: Queen Elizabeth II and the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, left, stand outside York Minster after the Royal Maundy service Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA