Worcester, MASS. - Christ the King Church in Worcester holds six masses to observe Ash Wednesday. The day marks the start of lent, a 40-day season where most Christians emphasize the need for prayer, fasting and giving back.

This year’s Ash Wednesday comes with added meaning given Pope Francis' health. The 88 year old has been hospitalized since Feb. 14, undergoing treatment for pneumonia.

Monsignor Thomas Sullivan said the church expect to see close to 1,000 parishioners by the end of the day Wednesday and they’re all praying for the Pope’s recovery.

"So many people come today that we might not normally see. It is a great launch to this wonderful season. A holy season of lent,” Sullivan said. “I think what's emblematic of his pontificate is his special emphasis on the poor, immigrants, refugees, those subjects that we are all talking about in society today. So, as we pray for him and his full recovery, we also are very, very grateful for his emphasis on the poor.”

In an update shared Wednesday morning, the Vatican said the Pope remains in stable condition with a guarded prognosis.