Rome holds its breath for Easter celebration

Dogs that can detect explosives. Blockades around access roads. Metal detection around the Vatican and snipers on the roofs. Rome holds its breath for the celebration of Easter. Three thousand police and military personnel have been deployed for the enormous security operation.

The concern for security in and around the Vatican is huge, as the celebration spans five major events over four days. The first big event is already Friday evening, when Pope Francis walks from the Colosseum the Via Crucis. The Way of the Cross of Jesus leads during a procession to the Palatine Hill. During the procession, the Pope stops at fourteen places for prayer. Believers carry light with them.

Propaganda

"The highest priority is the absolute security of the Holy Father," said the head of the security operation. "Vigilance is only heightened by the terrorist attacks we've seen recently." The nervousness is further fueled by a number of propaganda films by Islamic State, in which the terrorist group announces an attack in Rome.

But it doesn't seem to keep tourists - surrounded by law enforcement - away from the Colosseum. 'They will be needed. It is precisely because you see soldiers everywhere that you get a safe impression,' says a visitor from Rotterdam. "Don't think too much about a possible threat." An attack can happen anywhere at the moment, according to a tourist from Barcelona. 'A police force gives you no guarantee that nothing can happen to you.'

Roadblocks for a happy Easter

On Sunday, the roadblocks and detection gates will be explicitly deployed around Sint-Pietersplein. Pope Francis delivers his traditional address there on Easter Sunday. He wishes the faithful a happy Easter in sixty languages, including Dutch. The police operation will be partially phased out again on Monday. But there are already plans in the making to permanently reduce traffic on more streets in order to increase safety.

Photo Good Friday around the Colosseum: Rop Zoutberg