Following is the text of Lent message by Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia Bishop Paolo Martinelli:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

With Ash Wednesday begins the holy season of Lent that leads us towards the triumph of Easter. The imposition of ashes is an expression of our willingness to be reconciled with God.

I invite you to read the message of Pope Francis for Lent, titled: "Let us journey together in hope".

Dear Brothers and Sisters, please keep Pope Francis in your prayers in this time of suffering, that the Lord may support him and give him the health necessary for his universal mission.

Together with the Holy Father, I also invite you first of all to walk. The jubilee we are celebrating invites us to be pilgrims of hope. Let us ask ourselves: are we standing still or are we on a journey in our spiritual life? A pilgrim has a restless heart until he has reached his destination, he desires to be forgiven and purified in the depths of his heart. As migrants, we are called to be always on the move towards the kingdom of God.

Furthermore, we are invited to walk together towards Easter. It is not enough to set out on a journey. We need to be together with others. Lent is a time to ask ourselves if we are walking together: let us never remain isolated, open ourselves to others, above all to those who are in need.  Let us go out of ourselves and strengthen our bonds, in the family, in the community and among the holy people of God. As a Church of migrants, we are called to be a synodal Church, where people from different nations walk together towards Easter.

Finally, let us walk together in hope. Lent is a time to grow in true hope and leave behind false hopes, our idols. Woe to those who put hope in money, power and career. True hope is never in things that pass away but in Jesus. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, as migrants we know everything is passing away, but Jesus remains forever.

I wish you a profound Lenten journey, to love and be loved, to forgive and be forgiven. May Mary, Mother of Hope, protect us all on the journey to Easter joy.