Pope Leo XIV Says World Is \u2018in Flames\u2019 at Ash Wednesday Service
\n———————————
\nIn his first Ash Wednesday homily since becoming pontiff, Pope Leo XIV cautioned worshippers that the world is \u201cin flames\u201d due to ongoing wars and environmental devastation, drawing parallels between global crises and the symbolic ashes used in the Lent observance.<\/p>\n
The address took place on February 18, at the Basilica of Santa Sabina on Rome\u2019s Aventine Hill, marking the beginning of the 40-day Lenten season, a period of fasting, reflection and preparation for Easter.<\/p>\n
In his remarks, Pope Leo said that the ashes Christians receive on Ash Wednesday \u2014 traditionally a reminder of human mortality \u2014 could also represent \u201cthe weight of a world that is ablaze\u201d and \u201centire cities destroyed by war.\u201d He added that the ashes might symbolize \u201cthe ashes of international law and justice among peoples\u201d and \u201cthe ashes of entire ecosystems,\u201d reflecting deep concerns about global conflict and environmental damage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is so easy to feel powerless in the face of a world that is in flames,\u201d the Pope said, urging Catholics to embrace the Lenten disciplines of fasting, prayer and charity, and to remember the needy during the season.<\/p>\n
Pope Leo, who became leader of the Roman Catholic Church in May 2025 \u2014 succeeding the late Pope Francis \u2014 did not single out specific wars in his Ash Wednesday homily but has previously voiced criticism of global violence and \u201ca global zeal for war.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pope Leo XIV Says World Is \u2018in Flames\u2019 at Ash Wednesday Service ——————————— In his first Ash Wednesday homily since becoming pontiff, Pope Leo XIV cautioned worshippers that the world is \u201cin flames\u201d due to ongoing wars and environmental devastation, drawing parallels between global crises and the symbolic ashes used in the Lent observance. The …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":140286,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_108372464460192_245495985553329":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-140287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marjaeyat"],"yoast_head":"\n