Photos of the Week: Church restorations; Super Bowl nun fandoms

By Jessi Dodge · February 10, 2023
 (RNS) — Each week Religion News Service presents a gallery of photos of religious expression around the world. This week’s photo gallery includes restorations to a church in Florence, Catholic nuns in Philadelphia preparing for the Super Bowl and more. Chiara Zizola, right, and Roberto Nardi work to restore mosaics that adorn the dome of one of the oldest churches in Florence, St. John's Baptistery, in Florence, Italy, Tuesday Feb. 7, 2023. The restorers work from innovative scaffolding shaped like a giant mushroom that will stand for the next six years in the center of the church, which will remain open to visitors too allow them to come face to face with more than 1,000 square meters of precious mosaics. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Visitors admire St. John's Baptistery, one of the oldest churches in Florence, central Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. The Baptistery's dome is undergoing restoration work that will allow visitors, for the first and perhaps only time, to come face to face with more than 1,000 square meters of precious mosaics covering the dome. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Sister Margaret Fagan, principal of St. Aloysius Academy for Boys in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, decorated her office to show off her Eagles support including, jerseys, tickets, personal photos and other paraphernalia around the office. Courtesy Sister Margaret A fan dressed as the Pope clowns around in the stands during a Caribbean Series semifinal baseball game between Mexico and the Dominican Republic in La Guaira, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Bikers begin the annual motorcycle pilgrimage to the church of the Black Christ of Esquipulas, in Guatemala City, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Pilgrims from across Central America flocked to the town of Esquipulas Saturday to pay homage to the Black Christ after three year hiatus due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) Policemen stand guard outside the parliament as Buddhist monks protest Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe's policies as he speaks inside, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Wickremesinghe on Wednesday appealed for patience amid the country's worst economic crisis but promised brighter times ahead. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) A view of archaeological work at a 14th-century synagogue in the town of Utrera, southern Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Archaeologists in the southern Spanish town of Utrera confirm they have uncovered a 14th-century synagogue hidden within a building that was later converted into a church, hospital and most recently a bar. (AP Photo/Santi Donaire) A woman prays in front of a religious icon in the catacombs of the Pechersk Lavra monastery in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Parts of the Acropolis are covered in snow as the Parthenon temple stands atop of the ancient hill, after a snowfall, in Athens, Greece, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. High winds and a cold snap in Greece halted ferry services and highway traffic and dusted the Acropolis and other ancient monuments in Athens with snow Monday. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) Hindu devotees join a procession as they walk inside the Sri Subramaniyar temple during Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. Thaipusam, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, is an annual procession by Hindu devotees seeking blessings, fulfilling vows and offering thanks.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Pope Francis meets with priests, deacons, consecrated people and seminarians at the Cathedral of Saint Theresa in Juba, South Sudan, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Francis was in South Sudan on the second leg of a six-day trip that started in Congo, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) A priest holds a sacrament bowl showing a photograph of Pope Francis at a Holy Mass at the John Garang Mausoleum in Juba, South Sudan Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. Francis' six-day trip started in Congo and aimed to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) An audience awaits the arrival of Pope Francis for a Holy Mass at the John Garang Mausoleum in Juba, South Sudan Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Archival Photos Nine of 12 bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church take part in a five-day Connectional Council gather on the steps of Price Methodist church in Youngstown, Ohio, July 24, 1965. RNS archive photo. Photo courtesy of the Presbyterian Historical Society Mr. and Mrs. James A. McDivitt, Sr., center and center right, parents of astronaut Jim McDivitt, attend a special Mass at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church in Jackson, Michigan, a few hours before the Gemini 4 spacecraft soared into space from the Cape Kennedy launch pad on June 3, 1965. Maj. McDivitt served as commander of Gemini during its four-day space flight around the earth. As his parents were at church, his family -- Mrs. Pat McDivitt and their three children -- attended a special Mass celebrated at St. Paul's Catholic parish house near Houston, Texas. RNS archive photo. Photo courtesy of the Presbyterian Historical Society
Related Stories
Photos of the Week: 10 years of Pope Francis
By Kit Doyle
Photos of the Week: Festival of Colors; Purim celebrations
By Kit Doyle
Photos of the Week: Fish fries; Kentucky revivals
By Kit Doyle
Photos of the Week: Carnival, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday
By Jessi Dodge
Photos of the Week: Earthquake aftermath; Shiite pilgrims
By Kit Doyle
en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish