A Year of Faith and Devotion: Capturing the World's Spiritual Moments

In 2025, photographers from the Associated Press documented a wide range of spiritual practices and religious events across the globe.

Diverse Expressions of Faith

• St. Peter’s Square, Vatican: A vast crowd gathers for Pope Francis' funeral.
• Uruguay: A single woman honors the African sea goddess Yemanja.

These images highlight the diverse ways people express their faith.

Vibrant Religious Festivals

• Spain: A man rides a horse through a bonfire to honor St. Anthony the Abbot.
• Mexico: Marchers with skull-painted faces celebrate the Day of the Dead.
• New York: A woman and her dog, both dressed in matching outfits, join the Easter Parade.

These scenes reveal the joy and color of religious traditions.

Faith in Conflict Zones

• Gaza: Palestinians share a meal during Ramadan amidst the ruins of their homes.
• Lebanon: Worshippers gather for Easter Mass in a church destroyed by an airstrike.
• Syria: A religious icon is stained with blood from a recent bombing.

These photos show the resilience of faith even in the face of violence.

The Dedication of Photographers

• Thanassis Stavrakas: Spent over a year arranging a visit to a remote monastery in Greece, resulting in a serene image of monks and cats on a cliffside.
• Emilio Morenatti: Spent three days following pilgrims in Spain, capturing their journey to the shrine of El Rocio.

These efforts highlight the dedication of photographers to document faith in action.

A Memorable Moment

A memorable photo of Pope Francis' funeral was taken from a rooftop terrace near a giant statue of Jesus. Photographer Alessandra Tarantino had only a few seconds to capture the scene, but her image conveys the immense crowd and the small, distant coffin. This photo encapsulates the deep connection between the pope and his followers.