Ash Wednesday Photos

Pope Benedict XVI, second from left framed by Cardinals, walks in a procession with other prelates at the Santa Sabina Basilica for Ash Wednesday prayer service, in Rome, Wednesday Feb. 17 2010. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Ash Wednesday mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina, in Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter.

(AP Photo/Alessia Pierdomenico, pool)

A man prays during an Ash Wednesday mass in Caracas, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter.

(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Pope Benedict XVI arrives to celebrate Ash Wednesday mass at the Basilic of Santa Sabina in Rome February 17, 2010.

REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

People pray during a mass to celebrate Ash Wednesday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Managua February 17, 2010.

REUTERS/Oswaldo Rivas (NICARAGUA - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

A Cardinal signs Pope Benedict XVI's forehead with a pinch of ash during the celebration of Ash Wednesday mass at the Basilic of Santa Sabina in Rome February 17, 2010.

REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (ITALY - Tags: RELIGION)

A Catholic woman prays after that her forehead was marked with the sign of a cross during a mass to celebrate Ash Wednesday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Managua February 17, 2010.

REUTERS/Oswaldo Rivas

A Catholic man has his forehead marked with a cross during a mass to celebrate Ash Wednesday in the Metropolitan Cathedral in Managua February 17, 2010.

REUTERS/Oswaldo Rivas

German Chancellor and head of the Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU) Angela Merkel drinks beer during the CDU Political Ash Wednesday party event in the northern German town of Demmin, February 17, 2010.

REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Pope Benedict XVI spreads ashes on the head of a Cardinal during the celebration of Ash Wednesday mass at the Basilic of Santa Sabina in Rome February 17, 2010.

REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

Vice President Joe Biden, with Ash Wednesday ashes on his forehead, walks in to introduce President Barack Obama on the one year anniversary of the signing of the Recovery Act, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, in the South Court Auditorium of the Old Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington.

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)


Students wait in line after their foreheads were marked by a Catholic priest with a cross using ashes of burnt palm fronds in observance of Ash Wednesday inside the compound of Sta. Rita elementary school in Paranaque city, metro Manila, February 17, 2010. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the 40-day season of Lent.

A mother lines up to have her forehead applied with ash to usher the 40-day season of Lent known as Ash Wednesday Feb. 17, 2010 at Redemptorist Cathedral in Manila, Philippines. The Ash Wednesday is observed by Catholics all over the world to remind mankind of being mortals.


A Roman Catholic nun applies ash on the forehead of a child on Ash Wednesday to usher the 40-day season of Lent at Redemptorist Cathedral Wednesday Feb. 17, 2010 in Manila, Philippines. The Ash Wednesday is observed among Catholics to remind mankind of being mortals.


Filipino Catholics line up to have their foreheads applied with ash or soot on Ash Wednesday to usher the 40-day season of Lent Wednesday Feb. 17, 2010 at Redemptorist Cathedral in Manila, Philippines. The Ash Wednesday is observed to remind mankind of being mortals.