Cardinal Angelo De Donatis will be taking Pope Francis' place in celebrating the Ash Wednesday Mass, which marks the beginning of the Lenten season. De Donatis is a former vicar of Rome, The Daily Mail reports. There is also a parade set to kick off the season.
Pope Francis reportedly slept through the night in hospital, though he has also experienced acute respiratory failure while in care. The 88-year-old Pontiff has also been on ventilation, though he was taken off that form of treatment and given oxygen via a nasal tube. Pope Francis has had respiratory ailments since childhood.
The X account of the Pope has continued to post here and there, with a recent post asking for prayers for broken families. The post read "Let us pray together that broken families might find the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other's gifts, even in their differences."
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of fasting and reflection for Catholics worldwide. The ashes symbolize humanity's beginnings in dust, and their end in the same way. "From ashes to ashes, dust to dust," is what a priest says when places ashes on the foreheads of parishioners.
Lent sees Catholics give up something dear to them for 40 days, which symbolize the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert prior to his entrance into Jerusalem and his crucifixion. That day is observed on Good Friday, just three days ahead of Easter, when it is believed that Jesus returned from the dead.
