Pope begins Lenten retreat with Curia

Pope Francis and other members of the Roman Curia began their annual spiritual retreat on Sunday 6th February, the fourth Sunday of Lent. On Sunday evening, after praying the Angelus together with the faithful in St Peter's Square at noon, Pope Francis boarded a small bus that took him to the 'Casa Divin Maestro' Centre in the town of Ariccia in the Alban Hills just outside Rome.

This is where Fr Ermes Ronchi, of the Servants of Mary, is leading the group in spiritual exercises based on ten questions from the Gospels.

These are the questions that will be contemplated throught the five days:

1. "What are you looking for?" (John 1:38)

2. "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40)

3. "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?" (Matthew 5:13)

4. "But who do you say that I am?" (Luke 9:20) 5. "Then, turning to the woman, he told Simon, 'Do you see this woman?'" (Luke 7:44)

6. "How many loaves do you have?" (Mark 6:38, Matthew 15:34) 7. "Straightening up, Jesus said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?'" (John 8:10)

8. "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" (John 20:15) 9. "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" (John 21:16)

10. "Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be?'" (Luke 1:34).

The retreat lasts until Friday 10 March. During this time Pope Francis will have no public meetings or audiences, including no Wednesday general audience. The participants will return to the Vatican on Friday.

Source: Vatican Radio