Cardinal Angelo De Donatis sprinkles ashes during the celebration of Mass on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the Basilica of Santa Sabina located on Rome’s Aventine Hill. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Mar 5, 2025 / 14:10 pm (CNA).
PopeFrancissaidtheLentenjourneyremindstheChurchthathopeinJesusChristultimatelyovercomesfearsoffragility,weakness,andthebrevityoflife.
“Madeofashesandearth,weexperiencefragilitythroughillness,poverty,andthehardshipsthatcansuddenlybefallusandourfamilies,”thepopesaidinhis homily preparedforAshWednesday.
“Lent,however,isalsoaninvitationtorekindleourhope,”hesaid.“WeareinvitedtoliftoureyestotheOnewhorisesfromthedepthsofdeathandbringsusfromtheashesofsinanddeathtothegloryofeternallife.”
ThepopeiscontinuinghismedicaltreatmentatGemelliHospitalandwasunabletoattendtheMassheldinsidetheBasilicaofSantaSabinalocatedonRome’sAventineHill.
“Theashesremindusthatwearedust,buttheyalsosetusonajourneytowardthehopetowhichwearecalled,”CardinalAngeloDeDonatissaid,readingthepapaltext.“Jesusde
