The Holy See Press Office yesterday announced that Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary, will preside at the traditional celebration of the Ash Wednesday liturgy on the Aventine Hill, which will take place next week Wednesday.
Maintaining an ancient Roman tradition revived by St. John XXIII, the Pope usually begins 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, where he celebrates Mass.
According to Vatican News, since Pope Francis is in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to receive treatment for bilateral pneumonia, he has delegated the Cardinal to preside in his place for this year’s ceremony.
According to a message from Archbishop Giovanni Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, the Ash Wednesday celebration begins with the ‘stational liturgy’ at 4:30 PM in Sant’Anselmo, followed by the procession to Santa Sabina.