The Holy Pope Francis will preside at the Mass and the traditional Ash Wednesday procession on February 14, 2024, on Aventine Hill in Rome.
On February 6, the Office of Liturgical Celebrations announced that before the Eucharist, the pontiff will preside at the first Lenten station at St. Anselm Church, also situated on the Aventine, at 4:30 p.m. local time.
Later, the Holy Father will participate in the penitential procession to St. Sabina Basilica, where he will celebrate Mass at 5 p.m. and bless the ashes that will be distributed to the people of God.
The Lenten stations are one of the most deeply rooted traditions for the beginning of Lent in Rome, Italy. It is an ancient custom in which the Catholic faithful stopped at different churches to meditate on the Passion of the Lord.
Every day of Lent, the faithful stopped in front of one of the churches in the historic city center erected in memory of the martyrs.
The Holy Father will be making his personal Lenten spiritual retreat from the afternoon of Sunday, February 18, to Friday, February 23.
