Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the Regina Coeli prayer from the window of his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo in the hills south of Rome, on Easter Monday, April 13, 2009. Benedict arrived at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo on Sunday afternoon for a few days of rest following his busy Holy Week services.
China
A Chinese Catholic prays after she received blessing from Father Han Wensheng, second left, during an Easter mass at the Nantang church in Beijing, China, Sunday, April 12, 2009. Easter celebrants crowded into churches in Beijing on Sunday, for the day Christians say Jesus Christ rose from the dead after his crucifixion on Good Friday.
New York
Vanessa Sturbenz poses for pictures while wearing a giant floral hat at the Easter Parade in New York, Sunday, April 12, 2009.
Elephants feast on a meal of fruits, vegetables and matzoh in honor of the start of the Passover holiday in New York, Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
Spain
A penitent of the "Santisimo Cristo del Salvador y el Amparo" brotherhood throws a wreath into the sea during a Holy Week procession on the beach of Valencia, Friday, April, 10, 2009. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week.
Penitents make a dance of the dead a during an Easter Holy Week procession in Verges, Spain, Friday, April 10, 2009.
Legionnaires from the third "Don Juan de Austria 111" company carry a figure of Christ on a cross during an Easter Holy Week procession in Malaga, Spain, Thursday, April 9, 2009. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week.
Penitents of the "Virgen de la Esperanza" brotherhood take part in a Holy Week procession in Zamora, northern Spain, Thursday, April 9, 2009.
Penitents of the "Virgen de la Esperanza" brotherhood take part in a Holy Week procession in Zamora, northern Spain, Thursday, April 9, 2009.
Penitents of the "Stmo. Cristo de las Injurias" brotherhood take part in a Holy Week procession in Zamora, northern Spain, Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
Israel
A Christian worshipper carries a cross towards the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during the Good Friday procession in Jerusalem's Old City, Friday, April 10, 2009. Hundreds of Christian clergymen, worshippers and pilgrims marked Good Friday at Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Christian tradition says Jesus was crucified and resurrected.
A Christian pilgrim holds a cross as she stands in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City, Friday, April 10, 2009.
An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish girl wears a plastic cover to protect her from the smoke and ashes as others burn leavened items in a final preparation before the Passover holiday, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, April 8, 2009. All leavened food, such as bread, is forbidden to Jews during the week-long Passover holiday commemorating the Israelites' departure from Egypt.
Vatican City
Pope Benedict XVI offers a nun Holy Communion at Chrism Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, April 9, 2009. The Chrism Mass marks the start of the Vatican Easter celebrations. Benedict XVI celebrated a Holy Thursday Mass that included the traditional blessing of holy oils -- some of which will be sent to the earthquake zone in central Italy as a sign of closeness to the stricken population.
Germany
Bread and leavened items burn in a fire as a final preparation before the Passover holiday in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday April 8, 2009.
Hungary
A bucket of water is poured onto a woman of the Paloc minority, dressed in her traditional clothing, in Holloko, 60 miles northeast of Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, April 9, 2009, during a rehearsal performance for the typical Hungarian Easter tradition of men pouring water on women. The actual event takes place on Sunday and Monday.
Iran
The Gidaeians, an Iranian Jewish family, hold a tray of matzoh, an unleavened bread that Jews eat during the Passover holiday, in Tehran, Iran, late Thursday April, 9, 2009. All leavened food, such as bread, is forbidden to Jews during the week-long Passover holiday commemorating the Israelites' hasty departure from Egypt.
Mexico
A woman holds her son dressed as an angel during Holy Week in Taxco, Mexico, Thursday, April 9, 2009. Holy Week commemorates the last week of the earthly life of Jesus Christ culminating in his crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
India
A man dressed as Jesus carries a wooden cross during a Good Friday procession in Gauhati, India, Friday, April 10, 2009.
Christians offer prayer on occasion of Good Friday prayers in New Delhi, India, Friday, April 10, 2009.