In a solemn commencement of the Lenten season, Pope Leo XIV presided over Ash Wednesday ceremonies at the Vatican, delivering a poignant critique of global conflicts that have reduced international law to “ashes.” The pontiff personally led the traditional prayer and procession—a practice his predecessor had largely delegated—walking alongside monks, priests, bishops, and cardinals between Roman churches before administering ashes during Mass.
Ash Wednesday initiates the 40-day period of fasting, reflection, and spiritual preparation leading to Easter observances. In his homily, Pope Leo framed the ritual ashes as symbolic of broader global destruction: “They bear the weight of a world that is ablaze, of entire cities destroyed by war.”
The Pope specifically lamented the deterioration of post-World War II legal frameworks, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and even referencing U.S. military actions in Venezuela. His remarks extended beyond geopolitical concerns to include ecological damage, loss of traditional wisdom, and diminished respect for sacredness in creation.
Concurrently, the Holy See confirmed its non-participation in the U.S.-proposed Board of Peace for Gaza. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, asserted that the United Nations remains the appropriate institution to oversee ceasefire monitoring and reconstruction efforts in the conflict-ravaged territory.