San Francisco residents attend Ash Wednesday, pray for Pope Francis

Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent, a period of reflection for Catholics worldwide. While many gathered today to receive ashes, a symbol of faith, worshippers in North Beach also lifted up special prayers for Pope Francis, as he remains hospitalized for respiratory complications.

At St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church, Father Lam administered ashes to parishioners, continuing a tradition that has persisted for centuries. The custom signifies repentance as the church prepares for its Easter fast.

"We are asking people to do some penance and do some good works, helping others, so we can all go together and prepare ourselves for Easter," Father Lam said.

However, this year's Ash Wednesday has a unique significance. The global Catholic community is especially focused on prayers for the pope, who has spent nearly three weeks in the hospital battling respiratory issues.

"We ask you to pray for his speedy recovery, so that he can resume his duty as the pastor of the whole world," Father Lam added.

The pope's illness comes amid concerns over a significant decline in church attendance. A recent 2024 report from the Hartford Archdiocese revealed an 18% drop in Catholic church attendance from 2019 to 2024. This decline has been attributed, in part, to an increasing number of Americans identifying with no religious affiliation.

Despite the trend, some church leaders are optimistic. Frank Lavin, a Eucharist minister, noted a positive shift in attendance at St. Peter and St. Paul.

"It was really great this morning to see so many people in church getting their ashes again. Because it used to be a really big deal to go to church on Ash Wednesday, get ashes, give something up for Lent. So, I feel like the tide is kind of changing," Lavin said.

The decline in attendance is also linked to ongoing controversies, including the church's decades-long sexual abuse scandal. Yet, Father Lam remains hopeful about the church's future.

"When you look at the human face of the church, we find many faults and many defects and so on, but don't forget that Jesus Christ is the real leader of the church. So we have to look at the church not only from the human point of view, but also from the divine perspective," Father Lam said.

It is this divine perspective, he believes, that sustains his commitment to serving his community.