Presiding over Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Saint Sabina in Rome, the Holy Father reflected on the meaning of the ashes imposed on the faithful. The ashes, he said, remind Christians not only of human frailty and mortality, but also of “the weight of a world that is ablaze, of entire cities destroyed by war.”
The present state of the world, marked by violence and destruction, calls for honesty and spiritual responsibility. “This Ash Wednesday asks us to call death for what it is, and to carry its marks within us,” the pope said, underscoring the seriousness of both personal and collective sin.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and repentance in preparation for Easter. Pope Leo described it as “a powerful time for community,” especially in a context where authentic community is increasingly rare. Lent gathers believers as “a community of witnesses that recognises their sins.”
The pope stressed that sin is both personal and communal. While sin “afflicts our hearts and exists within us,” it also manifests in broader “structures of sin,” which may be economic, cultural, political, and even religious in nature.
The Lenten journey, therefore, is not merely an individual spiritual exercise but a call to deeper conversion that includes confronting unjust systems and patterns of wrongdoing. Lent, he emphasized, means “daring to be free” through repentance and real change.
Highlighting the missionary significance of the season, Pope Leo noted that the call to repentance and accountability resonates particularly with young people, who recognise the need for responsibility within both the Church and society. “There should be accountability for wrongdoings in the Church and in the world,” he said.
Rather than viewing Lent as a private devotion, the pope encouraged Christians to witness to its meaning publicly and to share it with “the many restless people of good will” who are seeking authentic ways to renew their lives.
Through prayer, fasting, and conversion of heart, Lent becomes not only a time of personal transformation but also a sign of hope for a wounded world.