(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 23.01.2023).- The Holy See Press Office announced that this year the Pope will not take part in the Spiritual Exercises with the Roman Curia in a Retreat House on the outskirts of the Italian capital. Nevertheless, Pope Francis invited the Cardinals residing in Rome, the Heads of Dicasteries and Superiors of the Roman Curia to live in a personal way the period of Spiritual Exercises, suspending their work commitments and recollecting themselves in prayer from the afternoon of February 26 to the afternoon of March 3, the First Week of Lent.
Hence, during the First Week of Lent all the Pope’s activities will be suspended, including the General Audience on Wednesday, March 1.
It was Pope Francis himself who began the practice of retiring with his collaborators of the Roman Curia to a Retreat House, to take part in the annual Spiritual Exercises. However, this year it’s the Pope himself who has decided not to hold them again this way.
