Pope John Paul II led Roman Catholics in an Ash Wednesday prayer in the Roman Basilica, reminding worshipers of their mortality and suffering during Lent.

The 81-year-old pontiff rubbed ashes on the foreheads of worshipers during the service Wednesday, as a symbol of their mortality.

He also urged fellow Catholics to remember those suffering around the world.

The service came as more than a billion Roman Catholics marked the start of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and penitence leading up to Easter.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

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