Pope Francis will mark the start of the Lenten season with a series of special events in Rome, beginning with the celebration of Holy Mass and Ash Wednesday procession on February 22nd.

The Office for Liturgical Celebrations announced that Pope Francis would preside at the first Lenten station of the year at 4:30 p.m. at the church of San Anselmo on the Aventine Hill. A traditional penitential procession will follow this to the Basilica of Santa Sabina, where the Pope will celebrate Mass at 5:00 p.m. and bless the ashes to be imposed on the faithful.

The Lenten stations are an ancient tradition that dates back to the early days of Christianity in Rome, where the faithful would pause to meditate on the Passion of the Lord and sing litanies to the saints before continuing with their daily routines. In the past, this has involved a procession through the city’s center, stopping at various churches along the way. Still, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted these traditions in 2021, when the Pope presided over the Ash Wednesday Eucharist in St. Peter’s Basilica with only a few people in attendance.

Following the Ash Wednesday ceremony, Pope Francis will embark on his annual spiritual retreat from February 26th to March 3rd, during which all of his events will be suspended. He has also invited the Cardinals residing in Rome, the heads of Dicasteries, and superiors of the Roman Curia to join him in this period of spiritual reflection and growth.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.