The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season leading to Easter on Wednesday without the participation of Pope Francis, who was in the third week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia.

Francis remained in stable condition, with a guarded prognosis, meaning he was not out of danger, the Vatican said.

That’s it,” said Father Denzil Vinthanage, the priest at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Dozens of people attended the noon mass at church in Lufkin, which held mass four times to accommodate their members.

As Christians around the world mark the start of the season of Lent at Ash Wednesday services, the pope is taking part in associated traditions in his hospital room. Pope Francis had ashes imposed on his forehead at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital by another Catholic leader and also received the Eucharist,

Ash Wednesday is officially here! The Christian season of Lent — the 6-week period that leads up to Easter — starts. What we know on dates, meanings and more.

Milwaukee's new Catholic Archbishop Jeffrey Grob kicked off the Lenten season with Mass at Pius XI Catholic High Schoo