Ash Wednesday: Pope Francis’ Service And Glitter In Place Of Ashes

Ash Wednesday this year has seen Pope Francis leading a service held in a Roman basilica, while other Catholics paved the way for a new kind of celebration of Lent by smudging glitter on the foreheads of the faithful instead of the more traditional ashes.

Those who grew up Catholic will know that Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent and this period ends after Easter. Catholic parishioners who attend Ash Wednesday services will have ashes daubed onto their foreheads to remind them of their mortality and the promise of another life in Jesus Christ.

This Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis donned his purple vestments and took part in a procession in Rome which led to a 5th century church known as St. Sabina’s Basilica. Fox News reports that Pope Francis had his own spin on this year’s Ash Wednesday service.