Pope Francis Celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass

VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - FEBRUARY 10: (EDITORS NOTE: Image depicts death) The corpse and relics of Padre Pio are carried by frears as they are displayed in St. Peter's Basilica for veneration by the faithful in connection with the ongoing Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy during Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Peter's Basilica on February 10, 2016 in Vatican City, Vatican. Ash Wednesday opens the liturgical 40 day period of Lent; encouraging prayer, fasting, penitence and alms giving, leading up to Easter. The Pontiff will leave on Friday for Cuba and Mexico where he will hold an unprecedented meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on February 12th. (Photo by Giulio Origlia/Getty Images)