[livius]

Priests (including the Pope) receive their ashes on their head rather than their forehead.

[Tax-chick]

Oh. Thanks!

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

“Priests (including the Pope) receive their ashes on their head rather than their forehead.”

Interesting - do you know why that is?

[GeorgiaGuy]

“Priests (including the Pope) receive their ashes on their head rather than their forehead.”

My understanding is that ashes on the head are a European custom (or at least Italian) while ashes on the forehead are a US custom. So, all clergy in the US receive ashes on the forehead and all, including laity, receive ashes on the head in Europe (or at least Italy).