A 5-year-old Mexican boy whose eyes were allegedly gouged out …
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)
A wayward moose gave police in Canada quite a chase Thursday …
Advertisement
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.
Ground rules for posting comments: No profanity or personal attacks. No racially charged comments. If it's not something you would say to someone's face, it's most likely inappropriate. Please comment on the subject of the story itself. If you do not follow these rules, we will remove your post. Repeat offenders will be banned from making future comments. Keep it civil, folks! WANE is not responsible for the content posted in this comment section.
Email This
Print This
View Story on a Single PageAdvertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
