A lot of social media customers mistook the ash that appeared on President Joe Biden's brow on Ash Wednesday as a bruise—however in actual fact it was an indication of his Catholic religion.

On Wednesday, the Roman Catholic president marked the start of Lent by receiving the signal of the cross on his brow in ashes.

The ash is positioned on the brow by a priest or minister, with Biden telling reporters that his have been utilized by Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington D.C.

Historically, the ashes come from the burning of palms used on the earlier yr's Palm Sunday. The ashes are then blessed earlier than getting used within the ceremony.

Whereas it's not required for worshippers to have ash on their brow for the remainder of the day, many select to take action.

Biden was seen with the ash nonetheless on him as he spoke to reporters on the White Home garden, in addition to at an occasion on the College of Wisconsin-Superior later that day.

On social media, many individuals believed the smudge on the 79-year-old's brow was a bruise.

"Am I the one one who noticed that large ass bruise on Biden's brow? Whats happening with that? one Twitter person wrote.

One other added: "Why is nobody mentioning the massive black bruise on President Biden's brow?"

Twitter person HRHMaggie wrote: "Simply noticed Biden On the garden stopped by reporter requested a query at this time. He face[d] the digicam and he had a giant bruise within the middle of his brow. Did he face plant or did he stroll into one thing?"

This isn't the primary time that Biden's Ash Wednesday cross has been mistaken for a bruise.

In 2010, Kay Burley, one of many U.Ok.'s best-known broadcast journalists, needed to apologize on air after suggesting the then Vice President could have injured himself strolling right into a door or collaborating within the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

"He is most likely been having a go on these tea trays down the luge or one thing... It actually appears to be like like fairly a bruise, would not it?" Burley mentioned on Sky Information earlier than later apologizing for being a "very dangerous Catholic."

"I do know I ought to know that at this time is Ash Wednesday and that is why he'd bought ash throughout his brow," she mentioned.

"I've mentioned three Hail Marys, every little thing goes to be wonderful."

Ash Wednesday marks the six-week interval of Lent the place Christians have interaction in self-sacrifice, fasting, and repentance.

When requested by reporters on Wednesday what he's giving up for Lent to mark the event, the president replied: "All sweets."

" me, I begin off with dessert," Biden added. "No ice cream, nothing."

biden bruise
President Joe Biden, with the ashes nonetheless on his brow, speaks throughout an occasion on the College of Wisconsin-Superior on March 02, 2022 in Superior, Wisconsin.Scott Olson/Getty Pictures