Roman Catholics and Christians from around the world have joined together to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with prayers and processions on Good Friday.
The Holy Day falls every Friday proceeding Easter Sunday, but for Western Christians the holiday coincides with the Jewish Passover holiday this year. For the Eastern Orthodox churches, Good Friday falls next week.
The religious holiday is observed primarily by Christians, who remember the death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Catholics and Protestants gathered in the Holy Land of Bethlehem and re-enacted Jesus' crucifixion, followed by processions posing flags and olivewood crosses, the Associated Press reported.
In Jerusalem, Christian pilgrims filled the streets chanting prayers and following Jesus' 14 stations, ending in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus was believed to be crucified.
In the Philippines, thousands of people gathered in the villages and watched and devotees were nailed to crosses in a reenactment of Jesus' crucifixion.
Nine men wore crowns with wigs and were nailed to crosses as villagers were dressed as Roman centurions, according to the AP. Ruben Enaje, a 52-year-old sign painter carries out the crucifixion every year, this being his 26th. He told the AP that he felt good afterwards because the suffering had ended.
We do not judge and condemn, but we discourage it, Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines told the AP about the tradition where dozens of males walk kilometers beating their backs with sharp bamboo before re-enacting the crucifixion.
Vatican City
In Europe, Pope Benedict XVI marked Good Friday in troubled times. The 84-year-old religious leaders recently returned from Cuba and Mexico looking somewhat frail.
The Pope led a ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica on Friday at a time of growing concern over rebellion against the church. A Stations of the Cross ceremony followed at the Coliseum and other ceremonies will be carried out throughout the weekend, leading up to Jesus' resurrection marked on Easter Sunday.
Start the slideshow to view Good Friday pictures from around the world.
WARNING: Some images contain blood and sensitive content
A man depicting Jesus holds a cross as he walks towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Good Friday in Jerusalem's Old City April 6, 2012. Christian worshippers retraced the route Jesus took along Via Dolorosa to his crucifixion in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. ReutersFrench Archbishop of Paris Cardinal Andre Vingt-trois carries a cross in the gardens of the Montmartre's Sacre Coeur Basilica during the annual Good Friday "Stations of the Cross" procession in Paris April 6, 2012. Several thousands of people participated in the uphill procession celebrating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.ReutersA Christian worshipper touches a stone at a station along the Via Dolorosa on Good Friday in Jerusalem's Old City April 6, 2012. Christian worshippers retraced the route Jesus took along Via Dolorosa to his crucifixion in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. ReutersA giant Easter bunny greets visitors to the Britzer Garten amusement park on Good Friday in Berlin April 6, 2012. ReutersPeople, holding candles, attend a Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession during Good Friday celebrations in Luque April 4, 2012. ReutersAn actor applies make-up before taking part in a re-enactment of the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) in a procession during Good Friday celebrations in Luque April 4, 2012. ReutersHooded barefoot penitents perform self-flagellation to atone for their sins in San Fernando, Pampanga in northern Philippines April 5, 2012. Filipinos observe lent in predominant Roman Catholic Philippines, performing different kinds of penitence to atone for their sins that culminates on Good Friday, re-enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in some parts of the country. ReutersFilipino penitent Ruben Eniaje displays a three-inches custom made stainless steel nail that will be used to pierce his palms and feet during the Good Friday crucifixion in San Fernando, Pampanga in northern Philippines April 5, 2012. Filipinos observe lent in predominant Roman Catholic Philippines, performing different kinds of penitence to atone for their sins that culminates on Good Friday, re-enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in some parts of the countryReutersA man works on an image of Jesus Christ while making a sawdust carpet on a road in Tegucigalpa April 5, 2012. Multi-colored sawdust carpets are made all along the route which penitents walk during the re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. ReutersPeople use stencil paper to make a sawdust carpet on a road in Tegucigalpa April 5, 2012. Multi-colored sawdust carpets are made all along the route which penitents walk during the re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. ReutersFilipino penitents are nailed to wooden crosses during a reenactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion during Good Friday in Barangay Cutud, San Fernando, Pampanga in northern Philippines April 6, 2012. Reutersilipino penitent Bobby Gomez grimaces while being nailed on a wooden cross during a reenactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday in Barangay Cutud, San Fernando, Pampanga in northern Philippines April 6, 2012. ReutersA three-inch stainless steel custom nail is seen pierced through the palm of a penitent while nailed on a wooden cross during a reenactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion during Good Friday in Barangay Cutud, San Fernando, Pampanga in northern Philippines April 6, 2012. ReutersA penitent dressed as Jesus Christ carries a cross during a ritual to mark Good Friday in Mumbai April 6, 2012. Good Friday is observed as a day of mourning in memory of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.ReutersMembers of the Italian Catholic community take part in a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday in Bensheim, southwest of Frankfurt, April 6, 2012. Thousands of spectators watched the yearly Passion Play performed by about 100 laity actors. ReutersMembers of the Italian Catholic community take part in a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday in Bensheim, southwest of Frankfurt, April 6, 2012. Thousands of spectators watched the yearly Passion Play performed by about 100 laity actors. Reuters
