Pope Francis: “Lent is time to turn off cell phones and TVs and connect to the Gospel”
Lent is a time to “turn off the television and open the Bible, disconnect from our mobile phones and connect to the Gospel,” Pope Francis said during the Wednesday general audience. Francis also focused on the coronavirus, expressing his closeness to the sick, to health workers and all those who are committed to stopping the infection.
During today’s General Audience in St. Peter’s Square Pope francesco he reflected on Lent. With Ash Wednesday begins the forty-day journey towards Easter, towards the “heart of the liturgical year and of faith”. “It is a path that follows that of Jesus, who at the beginning of his ministry withdrew for forty days to pray and fast, tempted by the devil, in the desert”, the Pope’s words to the faithful. The Pope’s invitation for the period of Lent is that of make room for the word of God and “connect” to the Gospel. “Lent is the propitious time to make room for the Word of God – confides Pope Francis – It is the time to turn off the television and open the Bible. It is the time to disconnect from our mobile phones and connect to the Gospel. It is the time to give up on words. useless, chatter, rumors, gossip, and give the Lord’s you ”.
Pope Francis and the road to Lent: “Prayer, fasting and works of mercy”
But above all for Francesco this is “the time to devote himself to a healthy ecology of the heart.” “There is too much verbal violence, offensive and harmful words that the Net amplifies. Today we insult as to say good day “, the Pope’s words. Finally the Pope in catechesis indicated the way for this journey of Lent:” Prayer, fasting, works of mercy: this is the road in the Lenten desert “.
Coronavirus, Pope Francis’ thoughts on the sick and doctors
During the Ash Wednesday audience, the Pope again spoke of the coronavirus epidemic, expressing his closeness “to the sick, to the health workers who treat them, as well as to the civil authorities with all those who are committed to stopping the infection “And finally he addressed a thought to employees of the Air Italy Company: “I hope that their working situation will be able to find a fair solution while respecting the rights of all, especially families”.
