°®Âþµº

Christians in the Holy Land and across the world are celebrating Easter, commemorating the day followers believe Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.

The cavernous Holy Sepulcher church in Jerusalem, where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected, was packed with worshippers on Sunday, despite expectations of a low turnout due to a sharp fall in the number of pilgrims visiting the Holy Land since the war in Gaza in 2014.

Jamal Khader, the rector of the Latin Patriarchate Seminary, told  that people were discouraged by government warnings to tourists and the reluctance of insurance companies to provide cover.

"Many tourists are changing their schedules to avoid the Old City. But it's not just tourists and pilgrims, local Palestinians avoid it too because of the heavy presence of [Israeli] soldiers," he said.

A Mass is expected later in Bethlehem's Nativity Church, built atop the site where Christians believe Jesus was born.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis presided over a solemn vigil service on Saturday night. In his homily, Francis said darkness and fear must not prevail and "imprison" the world with pessimism.

The call to hope on the eve of the most joyful celebration in the Christian calendar contrasted sharply with his condemnation of the attacks in Belgium and elsewhere by Islamic extremists.