The Holy Father's Message for Lent 2020 was published today entitled "“We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20)".
"Jesus’ Pasch is not a past event; rather, through the power of the Holy Spirit it is ever present, enabling us to see and touch with faith the flesh of Christ in those who suffer", Pope Francis writes also recalling several passages of the apostolic exhortation Christus vivit. For this reason, "It is good to contemplate more deeply the paschal mystery through which God’s mercy has been bestowed upon us. Indeed, the experience of mercy is only possible in a “face to face” relationship with the crucified and risen Lord “who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20), in a heartfelt dialogue between friends".
Jesus gives us a time of conversion. So, says Pope Francis, "despite the sometimes tragic presence of evil in our lives, and in the life of the Church and the world, this opportunity to change our course expresses God’s unwavering will not to interrupt his dialogue of salvation with us".
Therefore, "putting the paschal mystery at the centre of our lives means feeling compassion towards the wounds of the crucified Christ present in the many innocent victims of wars, in attacks on life, from that of the unborn to that of the elderly, and various forms of violence. They are likewise present in environmental disasters, the unequal distribution of the earth’s goods, human trafficking in all its forms, and the unbridled thirst for profit, which is a form of idolatry, Francis adds.
And He consludes that: "Today too, there is a need to appeal to men and women of good will to share, by almsgiving, their goods with those most in need, as a means of personally participating in the building of a better world. Charitable giving makes us more human, whereas hoarding risks making us less human, imprisoned by our own selfishness. We can and must go even further, and consider the structural aspects of our economic life".
The Message was presented in the Holy See Press Office on Monday 24 February in presence of Card. Peter K.A. Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery; by Msgr. Bruno Marie Duffé, Secretary of the Dicastery, and Dr. Mariella Enoc, President of the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital.