Pope Leo used the ritual of Ash Wednesday to draw attention to what he described as a world "in flames," linking the traditional symbol of mortality to broader human and environmental suffering as Christians enter the Lenten season.
Before applying ashes to the heads of those gathered, the pope said the markings could represent "the weight of a world that is ablaze, of entire cities destroyed by war." He added that the ashes might also stand for "the ashes of international law and justice among peoples, (and) the ashes of entire ecosystems."
"It is so easy to feel powerless in the face of a world that is in flames," the pope said, noting his own status as the first U.S. pope. The comments were delivered in the context of the 40-day period of Lent, observed by Christians as a time of penance that culminates in Easter and recalls the 40 days that Jesus is said to have spent fasting in the desert.
Lent calls on Catholics to fast, to remember those in need and to reflect on mortality. In his remarks, the pope did not single out any one conflict or name a particular country in connection with his references to cities destroyed by war.
The leader of the Church, who was elected to head the 1.4-billion-member institution in May and who replaced the late Pope Francis, has in his first year on the post frequently condemned ongoing wars. In a major foreign policy address last month, he denounced what he called a global "zeal for war."
The Ash Wednesday service took place at the Basilica of Santa Sabina on Rome's Aventine Hill. It was preceded by prayers in a nearby church and followed by a procession involving cardinals and bishops.
Context and practice
The rites observed on Ash Wednesday include the imposition of ashes as a visible reminder of human mortality and the call to repentance that characterizes Lent. In his homily, the pope broadened that symbolism to encompass not only personal sin but also large-scale human crises, including armed conflict, the weakening of international norms and environmental damage.
While he addressed these themes forcefully, the pope refrained from identifying any specific military engagement in his sermon.