Quebec Christians mark Good Friday with return of Way of the Cross procession

Montreal Catholic Archbishop Christian Lepine led the procession that began at the historic Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours church in Old Montreal.

After two years of pandemic disruptions, Quebec Christians marked Good Friday with the return of full capacity in-person Easter services and a traditional procession through the streets of Montreal.

Montreal Catholic Archbishop Christian Lepine led a silent crowd on the Way of the Cross procession that began at the historic Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours church in Old Montreal.

The masked crowd followed the tall wooden cross as it was carried through the sunny streets, stopping for hymns and prayers at several different churches along the way.

At the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica, employees stood guard at the door, dutifully reminding visitors to mask up.

The procession, which commemorates the events leading to Jesus’ Crucifixion and death, was cancelled for the last two years.

Lepine said the Easter message is one of hope at a time when the world is struggling with the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jesus’ death and resurrection, he said, is particularly poignant at a time of turmoil. It shows that “Love is stronger than death, love is stronger than suffering, love is stronger than evil,” he said.

This is the first Easter that churches have been to host full-capacity in-person events since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Gatherings were not permitted in 2020, while church attendance was capped at 250 people in 2021.