Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on a segment with Fox News bearing an ash cross on his forehead in commemoration of the Ash Wednesday holiday which marks the start of the Lenten season. Rubio appeared on the segment to discuss the war in Ukraine and Gaza with the cross prominently displayed. The cross is meant to be an identification with Christ, as well as sorrow for sins. The use of ashes reflects on human mortality, particularly as it relates to Genesis 3:19, which states, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Despite events unfolding in the world, the attention was turned to a question about the ashes. “Today is Ash Wednesday, a day of reflection and humility. For millions of Catholics in the United States and around the world, it is a day of faith that reminds us of our fragility and the need to do good,” he said. Rubio was raised Catholic but said in a previous interview he got “lazy” in his faith during the early years of his church. He attended an evangelical church with his wife and children before eventually returning to his Catholic roots.
The White House held an Ash Wednesday service for its staff in the Indian Treaty Room, although it is unclear if Rubio participated in that service or another. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump issued a statement to recognize the holiday, saying, “This Ash Wednesday, we join in prayer with the tens of millions of American Catholics and other Christians beginning the holy season of Lent — a time of spiritual anticipation of the passion, death, and resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Rubio received both praise and criticism for his public display of faith. “Marco Rubio not afraid to show his faith on TV- what a great example to us all,” wrote Ioana Ramona Bruynseels. Another user, however, took issue with Rubio supporting President Trump’s policies while wearing the cross. “Highly disturbing Marco Rubio carries the Ash Wednesday cross while discussing the slaughter of human beings in Gaza. Grotesque.” Other politicians have appeared in public capacities with ash crosses, including former president Joe Biden and former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush. According to sources close to Rubio, he “does not believe that expressing his faith is incompatible with his diplomatic duties.”
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