Lenten Retreat concluded at Vatican

March 21, 2011

Pope Benedict XVI and the leaders of the Roman Curia concluded their annual Lenten Retreat on Saturday evening, March 19.

The Holy Father thanked the preacher of this year’s spiritual exercises, Father Francois Marie Lethel, for "a spiritual journey inspired by the witness of my venerable predecessor John Paul II, whose upcoming beatification raised the topic of sainthood.” The week-long retreat had been centered on the theme of how the saints show the path to holiness.

As he addressed the participants in the retreat on its final day, Pope Benedict pointed out that it was the feast day of St. Joseph, “a humble saint, a humble worker, who was considered worthy to be the Redeemer’s guardian.”

St. Joseph is also the Pope’s patron saint, and later in the evening the Holy Father received the greetings of the Roman Curia for his patronal feast. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the former Secretary of State—who retains his post as Dean of the College of Cardinals at the age of 83—conveyed the greetings for the Curia.

 

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Further information:

• Pope Concludes Spiritual Exercises (VIS)