Pope John Paul XXIII participated in his first Lenten ceremony in Rome, Mar 2, when he went in holy procession to the Church of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill where a ceremony was held to mark the first day of Lent. Many people participated in the procession and ceremony.

Earlier, Pope John Paul said mass in his private chapel at the Vatican and blessed the Ritual Ashes which are considered the sign of penance. This penance follows the last day of the carnival period to cleanse people of sins committed during that time.