Pope Leo XIV opened the church's penitential Lenten season by presiding over Ash Wednesday and lamenting the "ashes of international law and justice" that have been left by today's wars and conflicts.

Leo revived the traditional prayer and procession that Pope Francis largely delegated to others in his final years. He walked with dozens of monks, priests, bishops and cardinals from one Roman church to another and then sprinkled ashes on the heads of cardinals during Mass.