The Lenten retreat of the Roman Curia, from March 9 to 14, will take place without the physical presence of Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized since February 14, the Vatican confirmed on March 4, 2025.
While no date has been set for the Pope's release from the hospital, the Vatican has confirmed that the Roman Curia's Lenten retreat (March 9-14) will take place.
It will be preached for the first time by the Capuchin Roberto Pasolini, appointed last November as preacher to the Papal Household. Father Pasolini took over from Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa who was appointed by John Paul II and held the post for decades.
The Lenten retreat is not always given by the preacher of the Pontifical Household, however. The pope selects each year the person to preach it.
In 2014, the Curia began to go to a retreat center for the retreat -- the House of the Divine Master retreat center located in the medieval hillside town of Ariccia, Italy, just south of Rome. However, already in 2020, the Pope couldn't physically attend because of a cold.
Then in 2021, in the heart of the pandemic, the Curia were invited to do the retreat privately from their own homes, and that tradition continued.
This year's retreat will take place “in spiritual communion” with the pontiff, according to a press release. Francis will not be physically present but could follow part of it via video link, a Vatican source suggested.
The theme of the retreat, “The Hope of Eternal Life,” was decided several weeks ago, before the hospitalization of the Bishop of Rome, and is therefore not related to current events, the Holy See also assures.
Intense media interest
The long hospitalization of the head of the Catholic Church has attracted many journalists to Rome. Television crews from all over the world have set up their cameras on the lawn of the Gemelli hospital and in St. Peter's Square, providing regular live updates on the Pope's health.
According to the Holy See Press Office, 700 journalists have been temporarily accredited since the beginning of the episode, in addition to the 500 or so journalists who usually follow the life of the small state. As a result, the press room, which has long opening hours, is always busy.
Follow all updates on the Pope's health here.
We pray for the Curia and the Pope and the fruits of the retreat
Here is a prayer for the Church from the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter:
For the Church:
O GOD of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favourably upon thy whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; and by the tranquil operation of thy perpetual providence carry out in her the work of men’s salvation, and let the whole world feel and see that things which were cast down are being raised up, that those things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to perfection through him by whom all things were made, even thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
