Pope Francis will not preside over Ash Wednesday Mass at Vatican amid hospitalization

Pope Francis will not oversee the traditional Ash Wednesday Mass at the Vatican due to his recent hospitalization, the Vatican says, and Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary, will take his place. 

The Vatican's Holy See press office on Tuesday said that the pope's condition is stable, despite his recent setbacks. As of Tuesday, the pope does not have a fever, and his labs have all come back stable, but his prognosis "remains guarded." 

The news comes the day before Ash Wednesday, which takes place on the Aventine Hill. The celebration will begin at 4:30 p.m. local time with the  'stational liturgy' in Sant’Anselmo, and will be followed by the procession to Santa Sabina.

At the end of the procession, the Eucharistic Celebration will take place, including the rite of blessing and the imposition of ashes, the Vatican said last week.

"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," The Holy See's press office said in a statement.

Francis was hospitalized last month with a mild fever and a respiratory tract infection, which progressed to double pneumonia. He underwent two bronchoscopies on Monday.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.