Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

Published on Monday, 19 February 2018
Francis begins his spiritual retreat in Ariccia with the Roman Curia

By Domenico Agasso/ lastampa.it/ :

As usual, the Pope and the prelates travel together by coach.

“I wish you all a fruitful Lenten journey, and I ask you to pray for me and my collaborators as we begin our week of Spiritual Exercises". So @Pontifex tweeted a few hours before arriving to Ariccia (Rome). The Pontiff arrived at the Casa Divin Maestro around 4:45. The Spiritual Exercises will begin In the evening.

As usual, the Pope, along with the prelates who go in retreat with him, left from Casa Santa Marta by coach.

This year Lenten retreat’s theme is "Praise of thirst" and the meditations will be led by Father José Tolentino de Mendonca, vice-rector of the Catholic University of Lisbon and consultor of the Pontifical Council for Culture. The first meditation is already scheduled for tonight.

From tomorrow until Thursday, February 22nd, the days at the House of the Divine Master will be marked by the morning mass, catechesis and moments of prayer. The Spiritual Exercises will end on Friday, February 23rd in the morning. Then the Bishop of Rome will return to the Vatican.