POPE TO PRESIDE AT ASH WEDNESDAY CEREMONY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 8, 2002 (VIS) - In the Basilica of St. Sabina on the evening of Ash Wednesday, February 13, 2002, John Paul II is due to preside at the Liturgy of the Word. The homily will be followed by the rite of the blessing and imposition of the ashes.

A moment of prayer at 5 p.m. in the church of St. Anselm will be followed by a penitential procession to the Basilica of St. Sabina. Cardinals, archbishops, bishops, the Benedictine monks of St. Anselm, the Dominican Fathers of St. Sabina and a number of lay people will take part in the event.

Cardinal Jozef Tomko, who holds the title of St. Sabina, will preside at the Eucharistic liturgy and, at the close, the Holy Father will impart his apostolic blessing.

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