While Pope Francis continues to recover from bilateral pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican has made arrangements for Cardinal Angelo De Donatis to lead the traditional Ash Wednesday liturgy on the Aventine Hill.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
The Vatican announced on Friday that Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary, will preside over the Ash Wednesday celebration on the Aventine, scheduled for March 5th.
Following an ancient Roman tradition revived by St. John XXIII, the Pope typically starts the Ash Wednesday “stational” liturgy at the church of Sant’Anselmo before leading a penitential procession to the Basilica of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill for Mass. Due to the Holy Father’s hospitalization, Cardinal De Donatis will step in to lead this year’s ceremony.
According to Archbishop Giovanni Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, the Ash Wednesday celebration will kick off with the stational liturgy at 4:30 PM at Sant’Anselmo, followed by a procession to Santa Sabina.
The procession will include Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Benedictine Monks of Sant’Anselmo, Dominican Fathers of Santa Sabina, and other faithful participants. Once at the Basilica of Santa Sabina, the Eucharistic Celebration will take place, including the blessing and imposition of ashes.
Archbishop Ravelli has reminded Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Benedictine Monks, and Dominican Fathers wishing to join the celebration to arrive at Sant’Anselmo by 4 PM in their proper choir attire.
