In Jerusalem, Christians marked Good Friday by walking through narrow alleys of the Old City, following the presumed route Jesus took before his crucifixion.

Jewish families made last-minute preparations for Passover which recalls the ancient moment when the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt.

Israel's military has imposed a two-day closure of the West Bank, saying only Palestinians needing emergency care would be allowed into Israel.

In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI was to preside in St. Peter's Basilica at a service to recall Christ's death before a similar "stations of the cross" procession at the Colosseum. This year's topic is marriage.

Pope chides Austrian dissidents

On Thursday he decried family breakups and rebuked Catholic-trained priests in Austria who last year advocated ordination of women and marriage for male priests instead of celibacy.

Benedict said the priests were pushing divisive ideas when the Church found itself in an "often dramatic situation."

"The Catholic Church did not receive authorization (to ordain women) from the Lord," he added.

But, a spokesman for the Austrian group, Helmut Schüller, told the Reuters news agency on Friday that despite the pope's disapproval, the Roman Catholic church would eventually have to reform itself.

Anti-militarist protests

In Germany, anti-militarist groups have begun a weekend of so-called Easter Marches, demanding major cuts in arms spending. Recently, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said Germany came in third among global arms exporting nations.

In western Germany's Ruhr District, its protestant bishop, Franz-Josef Overbeck, has demanded the retention of work-free Sundays, saying they are essential for employees to recuperate and reflect.

In Dublin the names of 3,700 dead from Northern Ireland's former conflict were being read aloud in a church to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which brought the violence to an end 14 years ago.

Penitent reenactments in Philippines

In the Philippines' northern province of Pampanga, dozens of Roman Catholic fanatics have again had themselves nailed to wooden crosses. Volunteer sufferers, whose reenactments are discouraged by the mainstream church, said when taken down they felt healed.

Orthodox Christians will largely celebrate Easter in a week's time.

According to the Gospels, Jesus was betrayed as he celebrated the Jewish Passover before being crucified under then Roman rule. Easter Sunday marks his religiously documented rising from the dead, regarded in Christianity as pivotal.

ipj/pfd (AFP, dpa, AP, KNA)