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.