The ashes are a mark of penitence and humility. "Remember that you are dust and unto dust you will return," is the traditional phrase read by the priest as he scatters the ashes or rubs them onto worshippers' foreheads.
Celebrating his first Ash Wednesday since becoming Pope, Benedict said Christians should use the 40-day Lenten season to reflect on their "unending fight against evil which is done using the weapons of prayer, fasting and penitence".
The Pope discussed "what should be the Christian response to the violence which threatens world peace"."Certainly not revenge, not hate and not even the flight into false spirituality. The response is to follow Christ," the Pontiff said. "We all must commit to opposing evil with good, lies with truth, hate with love."
Benedict said the ceremony of the ashes "certainly isn't a mere ritual, but something profound which touches our hearts".
While Ash Wednesday is traditionally a Roman Catholic and Anglican event, some Orthodox and Lutheran churches offer special services at which worshippers will be marked with ashes as symbol of penitence ahead of the season of Lent which leads up to Easter.
The Lenten season lasts for 40 days and is a time when many Christians make sacrifices, such as giving up a certain type of food or fasting entirely. This year, Easter falls on Apr. 16.
