Breaking News! His Holiness Pope Francis has failed…

This year, the Lord once again provides us with a significant opportunity to prepare our hearts for the celebration of the profound mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection, which serves as the foundation of our individual and collective Christian existence. It is essential that we consistently reflect on this mystery with both our minds and hearts, as its spiritual essence will flourish within us to the extent that we remain receptive to its transformative power and respond with both freedom and generosity.

1. The Paschal Mystery as the Foundation of Conversion

The joy of being Christian arises from our willingness to listen to and embrace the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection. This proclamation encapsulates a love that is “so real, so true, so concrete, that it invites us to a relationship of openness and fruitful dialogue” (Christus Vivit, 117). Those who accept this message reject the false notion that our lives are solely ours to control. Instead, life is a gift from God our Father, stemming from His desire to bestow upon us an abundant existence (cf. Jn 10:10). Should we heed the seductive whispers of the “father of lies” (Jn 8:44), we risk descending into a void of meaninglessness, experiencing a form of hell on earth, as evidenced by numerous tragic occurrences in both personal and collective human experiences.

In this Lent of 2020, I wish to convey to every Christian the message I shared with young people in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit: “Fix your gaze on the outstretched arms of Christ crucified, allowing yourself to be saved repeatedly. When you approach the sacrament of confession, have unwavering faith in His mercy that liberates you from guilt. Reflect on His blood shed with profound love, and permit yourself to be purified by it. In this manner, you can experience continual rebirth” (No. 123). The Paschal mystery of Jesus is not merely a historical event; rather, through the Holy Spirit’s power, it remains ever-present, allowing us to perceive and connect with the suffering flesh of Christ in those who endure hardship.
The Necessity of Transformation

It is beneficial to reflect more profoundly on the paschal mystery through which we have received God’s mercy. The experience of mercy can only occur in a direct, personal relationship with the crucified and risen Lord, “who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20), fostering a sincere dialogue between friends. This underscores the significance of prayer during Lent. More than merely an obligation, prayer represents our innate desire to respond to God’s love, which always precedes and supports us. Christians engage in prayer with the understanding that, despite our unworthiness, we are still embraced by love. Prayer can manifest in various forms; however, what truly matters in the eyes of God is that it reaches deep within us, softening our hardened hearts and guiding us toward a fuller conversion to God and His will.

In this opportune season, let us allow ourselves to be guided, much like Israel in the desert (cf. Hos 2:14), so that we may finally hear the voice of our Spouse and let it resonate more profoundly within us. The more we immerse ourselves in His word, the more we will encounter the mercy He generously offers. Let us not allow this time of grace to slip away in the misguided belief that we can dictate the timing and means of our conversion to Him.

3. God’s Intense Desire for Dialogue with His Children

The Lord’s provision of yet another favorable moment for our conversion should never be taken for granted. This renewed opportunity should inspire within us a sense of gratitude and awaken us from our complacency. Despite the often tragic presence of evil in our lives, as well as in the life of the Church and the world, this chance to alter our path reflects God’s steadfast commitment to maintaining His dialogue of salvation with us. In the crucified Jesus, who was without sin yet became sin for our sake (cf. 2 Cor 5:21), this salvific intention led the Father to place upon His Son the burden of our sins, thus, as expressed by Pope Benedict XVI, resulting in a “turning of God against himself” (Deus Carit.
The dialogue that God seeks to initiate with each individual through the paschal mystery of His Son is far removed from trivial conversation, akin to that which was observed among the ancient residents of Athens, who “spent their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21). This type of discourse, driven by a hollow and superficial curiosity, epitomizes worldliness throughout history; in contemporary society, it may also lead to the misuse of media.

4. A wealth to be shared, not hoarded

Placing the paschal mystery at the heart of our existence entails cultivating compassion for the wounds of the crucified Christ, which are manifested in the numerous innocent victims of conflict, in assaults on life ranging from the unborn to the elderly, and in various forms of violence. These wounds are also evident in environmental catastrophes, the inequitable distribution of the earth’s resources, human trafficking in all its manifestations, and the insatiable pursuit of profit, which constitutes a form of idolatry.

In our present time, there remains a pressing need to encourage individuals of goodwill to share their resources through acts of almsgiving with those who are most in need, thereby actively contributing to the creation of a better world. Engaging in charitable acts enhances our humanity, while accumulating wealth can diminish it, trapping us in our own selfishness. We must also extend our considerations to the structural dimensions of our economic systems. Therefore, during this year’s Lenten season, from March 26 to 28, I have organized a gathering in Assisi with young economists, entrepreneurs, and innovators, aimed at fostering a more equitable and inclusive economy. As the Church’s teachings have frequently emphasized, political engagement represents a significant form of charity (cf. Pius XI, Address to the Italian Federation of Catholic University Students, December 18, 1927). The same principle applies to economic endeavors, which can be approached with the same evangelical spirit, the spirit of the Beatitudes.
I request that Mary Most Holy intercede for us, so that our observance of Lent may prepare our hearts to respond to God’s invitation for reconciliation with Him. May we focus on the paschal mystery and engage in a genuine and open dialogue with Him. In doing so, we will embody what Christ calls His disciples to be: the salt of the earth and the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13-14).

Francis.