A procession of prelates accompany Pope Benedict XVI at the Santa Sabina Basilica, for the Ash Wednesday prayer service in Rome, Wednesday Feb. 25, 2009. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. At left, an Italian police officer looks on. (Pier Cito / Associated Press)
A person has her forehead marked with ash by the Rev. Philip Forlano during a Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of 40 days of prayer and self-denial leading up to Easter. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)
A woman gets her forehead marked with ash by a priest during Ash Wednesday in La Paz, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. (Juan Karita / Associated Press)
Rescue workers are seen near the wreckage of a Turkish Airlines aeroplane at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. The aeroplane, with 135 people aboard, slammed into a muddy field while attempting to land at Amsterdam's main airport. Nine people were killed and more than 50 were injured, many seriously, officials said. The Boeing 737-800 broke into three pieces on impact about two miles (three kilometers) short of a runway. (Peter Dejong / Associated Press)
A Forensic expert is seen near the wreckage of a Turkish Airlines plane at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. The plane with 134 people aboard slammed into a field while attempting to land and broke into three pieces. Nine people died in the crash. (Peter Dejong / Associated Press)
Rescue workers are seen near the wreckage of a Turkish Airlines aeroplane at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. The aeroplane, with 135 people aboard, slammed into a muddy field while attempting to land at Amsterdam's main airport. Nine people were killed and more than 50 were injured, many seriously, officials said. The Boeing 737- 800 broke into three pieces on impact about two miles (three kilometers) short of a runway. (Peter Dejong / Associated Press)
A female gray whale throws water as she comes to the surface at the Ojo de Liebre lagoon in Guerrero Negro, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Ojo de Liebre lagoon is one of three primary breeding lagoons that the whales seek in the Baja California peninsula and is located 450 miles south the United States-Mexico international border. Hunted to the edge of extinction in the 1850's after the discovery of the calving lagoons, and again in the early 1900's with the introduction of floating factories, the gray whale was given full protection in 1947 by the International Whaling Commission. Since that time the eastern north Pacific gray whale population has made a remarkable recovery and now numbers between 19,000 and 23,000, probably close to their original population size. (Guillermo Arias / Associated Press)
A gray whale surfaces from the water at the Ojo de Liebre lagoon in Guerrero Negro, Mexico, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. Ojo de Liebre lagoon is one of three primary breeding lagoons that the whales seek in the Baja California peninsula and is located 450 miles south the United States-Mexico international border. Hunted to the edge of extinction in the 1850's after the discovery of the calving lagoons, and again in the early 1900's with the introduction of floating factories, the gray whale was given full protection in 1947 by the International Whaling Commission. Since that time the eastern north Pacific gray whale population has made a remarkable recovery and now numbers between 19,000 and 23,000, probably close to their original population size. (Guillermo Arias / Associated Press)
A fin of a gray whale is seen between two whale bodies during a courtship at the Ojo de Liebre lagoon in Guerrero Negro, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Ojo de Liebre lagoon is one of three primary breeding lagoons that the whales seek in the Baja California peninsula and is located 450 miles south the United States-Mexico international border. Hunted to the edge of extinction in the 1850's after the discovery of the calving lagoons, and again in the early 1900's with the introduction of floating factories, the gray whale was given full protection in 1947 by the International Whaling Commission. Since that time the eastern north Pacific gray whale population has made a remarkable recovery and now numbers between 19,000 and 23,000, probably close to their original population size. (Guillermo Arias / Associated Press)
Gray whales swim near an eco-tourism boat at the Ojo de Liebre lagoon in Guerrero Negro, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Ojo de Liebre lagoon is one of three primary breeding lagoons that the whales seek in the Baja California peninsula and is located 450 miles south the United States-Mexico international border. Hunted to the edge of extinction in the 1850's after the discovery of the calving lagoons, and again in the early 1900's with the introduction of floating factories, the gray whale was given full protection in 1947 by the International Whaling Commission. Since that time the eastern north Pacific gray whale population has made a remarkable recovery and now numbers between 19,000 and 23,000, probably close to their original population size. (Guillermo Arias / Associated Press)
Canadian tourists Carol Ferguson, right, and Ian Scott touch a gray whale during a whale watching tour at the Ojo de Liebre lagoon in Guerrero Negro, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Ojo de Liebre lagoon is one of three primary breeding lagoons that the whales seek in the Baja California peninsula and is located 450 miles south the United States-Mexico international border. Hunted to the edge of extinction in the 1850's after the discovery of the calving lagoons, and again in the early 1900's with the introduction of floating factories, the gray whale was given full protection in 1947 by the International Whaling Commission. Since that time the eastern north Pacific gray whale population has made a remarkable recovery and now numbers between 19,000 and 23,000, probably close to their original population size. (Guillermo Arias / Associated Press)
The tail of a gray whale surfaces in one of three primary breeding lagoons that the whales seek in the Baja California peninsula. Hunted to the edge of extinction in the 1850's after the discovery of the calving lagoons, and again in the early 1900's with the introduction of floating factories, the gray whale was given full protection in 1947 by the International Whaling Commission. Since that time the eastern north Pacific gray whale population has made a remarkable recovery and now numbers between 19,000 and 23,000, probably close to their original population size. (Guillermo Arias / Associated Press)
Three subjects make up today's photo gallery. Images from Ash Wednesday, a airliner crash in The Netherlands and a beautiful set of photos of gray whales off of the coast of Mexico.