Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI leads the Ash Wednesday service at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican.
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Ash Wednesday opens the liturgical 40-day period of Lent, a time of prayer, fasting, penitence and alms giving leading up to Easter.