Photos: Ash Wednesday celebrated across the world

Things to Do

Photos: Ash Wednesday celebrated across the world

The faithful begin their observance of the Lenten season as they celebrate Ash Wednesday.

Pope Francis places ashes on the head of a cardinal as he leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter�s Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Priests marks crosses on the foreheads of the faithful, during the Ash Wednesday mass at the La Merced church in Panama City, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Ash Wednesday for Catholics worldwide ushers in a period of penitence and reflection, known as the season of Lent, that leads up to Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)

Pope Francis, right, takes the ashes during the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Indian catholic devotees offer prayers during a mass in observance of Ash Wednesday at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. The Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

A lay minister marks a sign of the cross on the foreheads of a Roman Catholic worshipper using ashes from burnt palm leaves in observance of Ash Wednesday at suburban Paranaque city, south of Manila,Philippines Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Ash Wednesday ushers the 40-day season of Lent and is observed among Roman Catholics to remind mankind of their mortality. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

A prelate places ashes on the head of Pope Francis during the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. The Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Roman Catholic devotees have their foreheads marked with a sign of the cross in observance of Ash Wednesday at suburban Paranaque city, south of Manila,Philippines Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Ash Wednesday ushers the 40-day season of Lent and is observed among Roman Catholics to remind mankind of being mortals.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

A Roman Catholic priest marks a sign of the cross on the forehead of an Indian Catholic worshipper in observance of Ash Wednesday at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. The Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Pope Francis, right, places ashes on the head of a cardinal as he leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter�s Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. The Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter�s Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

A lay minister marks a sign of the cross on the forehead of a Roman Catholic worshipper using ashes from burnt palm leaves in observance of Ash Wednesday at suburban Paranaque city, south of Manila,Philippines Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Ash Wednesday ushers the 40-day season of Lent and is observed among Roman Catholics to remind mankind of being mortals.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Pope Francis leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. The Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

A Roman Catholic nun marks a sign of the cross on the foreheads of worshippers using ashes from burnt palm leaves in observance of Ash Wednesday at suburban Paranaque city, south of Manila,Philippines Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Ash Wednesday ushers the 40-day season of Lent and is observed among Roman Catholics to remind mankind of being mortals.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Pope Francis blesses the ashes as he leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter�s Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis arrives to lead the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. The Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. The Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis, right, places ashes on the head of a cardinal as he leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter�s Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Cardinal Angelo Comastri, left, places the ashes on the head of Pope Francis during the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

A priest holds ashes during the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter�s Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, right, walks after receiving the ashes from Pope Francis, center, during the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter�s Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

1/21

Pope Francis places ashes on the head of a cardinal as he leads the Ash Wednesday mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. Pope Francis has smudged ashes on the bowed heads of prelates, nuns and ordinary Catholics during Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter�s Basilica. The ritual marks the start of Lent, a period of penitence, prayer and self-sacrifice as faithful prepare for Easter. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Today's Gallery Headlines

cedar grove, cairo

Photos: Cedar Grove defeats Cairo in first round of state tournament

Salem Campground Covington

PHOTOS: See the 'Places in Peril' across Georgia for 2026

Autotrader 400

PHOTOS: Tyler Reddick wins again at Autotrader 400

Allyson Phillips (center), Laken Riley’s mother, prays at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, during a memorial service for her daughter. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

PHOTOS: Hundreds honor Laken Riley with 5K, memorial on UGA campus

More Galleries

the weeknd

PHOTOS: The Weeknd electrifies the crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium

PHOTOS: Beyonce fans saddle up for 4-day Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

PHOTOS: Beyoncé fans arrive for 4-night Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

College Park Juneteenth Parade standalone photo

PHOTOS: Juneteenth Parade held in College Park

4th Annual Rick Ross Car Show

PHOTOS: Rapper Rick Ross holds 4th annual car show in Fayetteville