Photo

Pope Benedict XVI attends a procession towards St. Sabina's church to celebrate the Ash Wednesday mass in Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Regular Photo Size

International News

Mexican boy's eyes gouged out 'to save the world'

Boy's eyes gouged out 'to save world'

A 5-year-old Mexican boy whose eyes were allegedly gouged out …

Where is the London cauldron?

London's Olympic Stadium is ready, with a pristine track, a …

Higher enrichment at Iranian site

The U.N. atomic agency has found evidence at an underground …

Moose on the loose gives police a chase

A wayward moose gave police in Canada quite a chase Thursday …

Hurricane Bud roars toward Mexico

Hurricane Bud continued to weaken early Friday, but remained a …

Pope marks Ash Wednesday

A 'day of penitence and fasting'

Updated: Wednesday, 22 Feb 2012, 1:06 PM EST
Published : Wednesday, 22 Feb 2012, 1:06 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has led a solemn service to mark the start of the Lenten season of penitence, including the placement of ashes on the forehead of faithful.

Benedict wore purple-colored vestments as he celebrated Mass in the Basilica of Santa Sabina, an ancient church on Rome's Aventine Hill.

Although the 84-year-old pontiff has been using a wheeled platform to navigate the long aisle of St. Peter's Basilica to save energy, he walked unassisted into and out of Santa Sabina. In his homily, he noted that Ash Wednesday is a "day of penitence and fasting." Lent helps spiritually prepare Roman Catholics for Easter, which this year falls on April 8.

Benedict rubbed ashes on the foreheads of some faithful to symbolize mortality.

Comments

With WWLP.com's new commenting system you don't need to register. You can login with an existing Facebook, Yahoo!, Google, or Twitter account and more.

Pope marks Ash Wednesday

A 'day of penitence and fasting'

Site Tools