Ash Wednesday mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina

 Rome: In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, an unidentified Cardinal puts ash on Pope Benedict XVI’s head during the celebration of Ash Wednesday mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina, in Rome on Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (PTI)