Pope says Christians must walk 'arduous path to holiness'

Published: 2004-02-25

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II said every baptized Christian is called to walk "the arduous path to holiness" in order to be "authentic disciples of Christ." At the start of the church's penitential season of Lent, the pope presided over a special Ash Wednesday liturgy Feb. 25 in St. Peter's Basilica. The morning's weekly general audience was replaced by a solemn Liturgy of the Word celebration at the Vatican. In previous years, the pope traditionally led an evening Ash Wednesday Mass in Rome's Basilica of Santa Sabina after holding a Wednesday morning audience. The Vatican had earlier announced a cutback in the day's events due to the pope's declining health. But Ash Wednesday morning, the pope looked alert in royal blue vestments as he presided over the liturgy as well as blessed and distributed ashes among some of the faithful.

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