The call of Lent, Pope Francis wrote, is a call to turn to the Lord and so become "a sign of hope for the world." ...

On Ash Wednesday, observant Catholics receive a sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads, a gesture that underscores ...

The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season leading to Easter on Wednesday without the participation of Pope Francis, who is in the third week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia.

For the faithful who have descended on Rome for an event that comes every 25 years, the absence of the pope has been ...

The Vatican has made alternative plans for Ash Wednesday next week, making clear Pope Francis still had a long road to ...

ROME (TNND) — Vatican officials said Pope Francis is resting on this Ash Wednesday, the start of the solemn Lenten period.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, Christianity's 40-day season of prayer, fasting and giving in preparation for Jesus ...

The 40-day season of Lent began as Christian faithful around the world celebrated Ash Wednesday in preparation for Easter in ...

While Pope Francis remained hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, Italian Cardinal Angelo De Donatis celebrated the Ash ...

Cardinal Angelo De Donatis replaced Pope Francis in Ash Wednesday celebrations. LONDON and ROME -- Pope Francis "remained stationary" on Wednesday, "without showing any episodes of respiratory ...

The pope "rested well" and woke shortly after 8 a.m. this morning, his 20th day in hospital, as his condition remains stable and his prognosis remains reserved.

Catholic cardinals in Rome marked the start of the Lent religious season on Wednesday without Pope Francis, as the ...