Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Friday 29 March |
Good Friday
Aleteia logo
Church
separateurCreated with Sketch.

Pope Francis goes on retreat

VATICAN-POPE-RETREAT

AFP PHOTO / Vincenzo PINTO

Pope Francis (L) is seen through the window of a bus as he leaves the Vatican on March 5, 2017 for a week of spiritual retreat in Ariccia, near Rome. / AFP PHOTO / Vincenzo PINTO

Diane Montagna - published on 03/06/17

“I ask, please, for your prayers for me and my collaborators who will be on retreat until Friday”

Please consider a gift for Aleteia!
Help us spread the joy of Christ's victory.
Aleteia depends on your support.

Join our Lenten Campaign 2024.

DONATE NOW

VATICAN CITY — Even the pope needs time to step back from his daily activities to spend more time in silence, solitude and prayer with God.

This year Pope Francis and members of the Roman Curia will spend March 5-10 at the House of the Divine Master retreat center located in the medieval hillside town of Ariccia, Italy, just south of Rome.

The pope departed the Vatican by bus on Sunday after reciting the noonday Angelus with faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

The Pope himself reminded the faithful of his annual retreat after praying the Angelus and asked them for prayers for himself and for his collaborators.

“Just a few days ago we began Lent, which is the journey of God’s people toward Easter: a journey of conversion, spiritual warfare against evil with the weapons of prayer, fasting and works of charity,” the pope said. “It is my hope that the Lenten journey will be fruitful for everyone; and I ask that you remember in your prayers me and my collaborators of the Roman Curia, who this evening will being a week of retreat. I thank you from the heart for your prayer.”

On Sunday, @pontifex also tweeted: “I ask, please, for your prayers for me and my collaborators who will be on retreat until Friday.”

Each day of the 5-day retreat will include moments of prayer, meditation, and Eucharistic Adoration.

This year the spiritual exercises will be led by Franciscan Friar, Fr. Giulio Michelini.

At the heart of this year’s meditations is the theme of the Passion, the Death and the Resurrection of Christ according to the Gospel of Matthew.

The exercises are traditionally conducted during the first week of Lent, and as always, all the Pope’s audiences, including Wednesday’s General Audience, are suspended.

The participants will return to the Vatican on Friday.

Tags:
LentPope Francis
Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

jour1_V2.gif
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More
Newsletter
Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here.