For Ash Wednesday, pope to replace audience with liturgy, ashes

Published: 2005-01-28

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- For the second year in a row, Pope John Paul II will begin his Lenten observance by replacing his weekly general audience with a Liturgy of the Word and the distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 9. Following his normal practice, he will spend the first full week of Lent on retreat with his top Vatican aides. He has chosen Italian Bishop Renato Corti of Novara, vice president of the Italian bishops' conference, to preach the Feb. 13-19 retreat. For the first time, he will end the retreat semipublicly, with Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Feb. 19 in St. Peter's Basilica. Officials of the Diocese of Rome and employees of the Vatican have been invited to participate. Bishop Corti, 68, is scheduled to preach the Lenten retreat on the theme "The Church at the Service of the New and Eternal Covenant."

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .