Pope Francis has washed and kissed the feet of Muslim, Orthodox, Hindu and Catholic refugees, declaring them children of the same God.
His gesture came after the Brussels attacks, which he denounced as a ‘gesture of war’ and condemned arms makers as partly responsible.
The Pope’s comments came during an Easter Week Mass with asylum seekers at a refugee shelter in Castelnuovo di Porto, outside Rome.
The Maundy Thursday rite re-enacts the foot-washing ritual Jesus Christ performed on his apostles before being crucified 2,000 years ago.
Meanwhile other Christian communities held re-enactments of the crucifixion, violent flagellation ceremonies, parades and pilgrimages.
Marking the start of Easter, the global celebrations take on varying forms according to local Christian customs and ancient traditions.
In the Philippines, Catholics have been photographed prostrating in front of a chapel as they are whipped in a flagellation ceremony.
The capital Manila is also hosting street plays featuring actors playing the role of a tortured Christ and Roman soldiers.
Believers around the world mark Easter in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ as told in the New Testament.
The 11 include four Catholic men from Nigeria, three Muslim men from Mali, Syria and Pakistan; three Eritrean Coptic Christian women and a Hindu Indian man.
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