Pope Francis will preside over the Holy Mass and the traditional Ash Wednesday procession on the Aventine Hill in Rome on February 14th.
The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced on Tuesday, February 6th, that before the Eucharist, the Holy Father will lead the first Lenten station at the Church of Saint Anselm on the Aventine at 4:30 p.m. (Rome time).
Subsequently, Pope Francis will participate in the penitential procession to the Basilica of Saint Sabina, where he will celebrate Mass at 5:00 p.m. and bless the ashes to be imposed on the faithful.
The Lenten stations are one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the beginning of Lent in Rome. It is an ancient rite that invites the faithful to pause and meditate on the Passion of the Lord.
Each day of Lent, the Roman faithful would stop in front of one of the city’s central churches erected in memory of the martyrs. Afterwards, the procession would take place, in which the litanies were usually sung, and finally, Mass was celebrated.
It is worth noting that Pope Francis will personally undertake his Lenten spiritual retreat from the afternoon of Sunday, February 18th until Friday, February 23rd, 2024.
