Pope Francis’ homily for this year’s Ash Wednesday liturgy, held at the Basilica of Saint Sabina in Rome, was a reflection on human fragility and the hope found in Christ. As Pope is currently in the hospital receiving treatment for bilateral pneumonia, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, read the homily on his behalf.

Before delivering the message, Cardinal De Donatis invited those present to unite in prayer with Pope Francis, acknowledging his offering of suffering for the good of the Church and the world.

Pope’s reflection centered on the significance of the ashes imposed on the faithful. He described how the ritual invites individuals to look within themselves, recognizing their human limitations. The act of bowing one’s head to receive ashes symbolizes an awareness of life’s fragility, as the words remind us: “from dust we are created, and to dust we shall return.”

Pope Francis emphasized that human fragility manifests in many ways—weariness, fears, failures, illness, poverty, suffering, and ultimately, mortality. While people may often try to escape these realities, the ashes serve as a reminder of their true nature, keeping them grounded in humility and open to one another.

At the same time, Pope pointed out that ashes are not merely a sign of human frailty but also a symbol of hope. Through Jesus Christ, who took upon Himself the dust of the earth and raised it to the heights of heaven, believers are called to embrace a hope that transcends suffering and death. Without this hope, he warned, people risk falling into sadness and resignation when confronted with life’s difficulties.

Concluding his homily, Pope Francis urged the faithful to turn their hearts back to God, making Him the center of their lives. By doing so, he assured, the memory of their fragility—like ashes scattered by the wind—will ultimately be transformed by the hope of the Risen Christ.