Paris (AFP) – Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris celebrates Easter mass for the first time since the April 2019 fire which nearly destroyed the beloved landmark. “It represents the spirit, the history, and I think the real spirit of France and also of Christianity too,” says Elena Soffini, an Italian tourist.
Hong Kong (AFP) – Catholics in Hong Kong, Kinshasa, Jerusalem, Buenos Aires and Madrid react to the news that Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. “He was a refreshing voice in our church, even in his sickness,” says one mourner in Jerusalem.
Rome (AFP) – “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” announces Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a spokesperson for the Vatican. “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church.” The Argentine pontiff who led the Catholic Church since March 2013, passed away at the age of 88.
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) (AFP) – “I’d probably become popular, go down in history,” says Balasaguyn Musayev, a 36-year-old composer and one of hundreds of Kyrgyz musicians who have submitted entries to create the new national anthem. Kyrgyzstan has launched an unprecedented public contest to find an alternative to its Soviet-inspired anthem.
Tsingoni (Mayotte) (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron pays homage to Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88. “Throughout his pontificate, he stood alongside the most vulnerable and the most fragile,” says Macron, reacting to the news while on a visit to Mayotte.
Mirror (Canada) (AFP) – A small community in Canada’s conservative-leaning western province of Alberta welcomes US President Donald Trump’s talk of annexing Canada as its “51st State”, seeing as a path to getting their “freedoms back.” Trump is reviled across much of Canada but in Alberta — whose economy hinges on oil — 23 percent of people support the US president, according to a March survey from pollsters Leger.
Moscow (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a 30-hour Easter truce came as a surprise to many – but citizens in both Moscow and Kyiv express scepticism over whether it will make any lasting difference to the three-year conflict. Both sides have accused each other of violating the truce, although Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed extending it for 30 days beyond Sunday to “give peace a chance”.
Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis makes a surprise appearance in front of thousands of Catholics at St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, despite the 88-year-old pontiff’s frail health that has kept him from most Holy Week events.
Oruro (Bolivia) (AFP) – Bolivian artists gather on Good Friday at the Cochiraya sandbanks near Oruro, about 200 kilometers south of La Paz, to create sand sculptures depicting the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as other biblical figures such as Adam and Eve.
Beijing (AFP) – Dozens of humanoid robots take to the streets of Beijing, joining thousands of their flesh-and-blood counterparts in a world-first half-marathon showcasing China’s drive to lead the global race in cutting-edge technology.
