Grieving relatives joined political and religious leaders on Friday for a somber German state memorial service for the 150 victims of last month's Germanwings crash in the French Alps.

The ecumenical service at Cologne's historic cathedral was attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck, along with officials from France and Spain. At the front of the altar 150 candles were lit, one for each person killed.

Flags flew at half-staff nationwide and a white flag emblazoned with a black cross hung outside the cathedral.