Pilgrims celebrate Easter Mass with Pope

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Easter Sunday Mass as thousands of pilgrims and tourists jammed St Peter’s Square at the Vatican to join in the service and later receive his blessing.

“Peace be with you,” the Pope said on the flower-adorned steps of St Peter’s Basilica, using the Latin “Pax vobis” at the start of the celebration.

The sound of a boys’ choir rang across the square as the head of the Roman Catholic Church led the faithful in the celebration of the Christianity’s most important feast day.

Wearing gold-coloured vestments, the Pope gripped a slender, silver crucifix as clerics sprinkled incense across the steps.

The altar area was a riot of colour – red tulips, orange tiger lilies and yellow broom plants were among the flowers delivered from the Netherlands.

In an unusual touch for the Vatican’s Easter Mass, black-robed clerics intoned a long chant from the Byzantine liturgy. This year, Eastern and Western celebrations coincided.

The two rites often celebrate Easter on different dates because of different Church calendars.