Prayers for the pope during Ash Wednesday Mass

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — Many of the faithful across KELOLAND attended Ash Wednesday services to mark the beginning of the 40 days of Lent.

The ailing Pope Francis is in the prayers of both Catholics and non-Catholics who attended Mass Wednesday at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sioux Falls.

Ash Wednesday calls attention to the frailty and shortness of life.

“The season reminds us of our humanity, very much so, and our mortality. When we put the ashes on the heads of people, the words that we say are you remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return,” Cathedral Rector, Father James Morgan said.

But this Ash Wednesday takes on added meaning to worshipers at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph as Pope Francis remains hospitalized following his bout with double pneumonia.

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“We all hope he recovers and I think that when it’s his time, it’s his time, and the Lord will call him home,” Laura Lang of Emery, SD said.

Local parishioners see the pope’s personal health struggles as having a wider meaning by sharing in the sufferings of others at this time of year.

“I’m a cancer survivor, we have over 70 people that we’re praying for every day that have cancer. And so we pray for all those people that are suffering, especially, maybe through Lent,” Noelle Heiberger of Sioux Falls said.

A holy season marked by self-denial and self-sacrifice embodied in an ailing pope who’s the focus of prayers from around the world.

“We look to him for guidance and direction and when the pope suffers, we suffer a bit, too,” Fr. Morgan said.

The Vatican says Pope Francis has increased his physical activity and received ashes on his forehead Wednesday.