<a gi-track='captionPersonalityLinkClicked' href=/galleries/search?phrase=Pope+Francis&family=editorial&specificpeople=2499404 ng-click='$event.stopPropagation()'>Pope Francis</a> celebrates 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.