There were 15,000 people present in St. Peter's Square for Pope Francis' last public address before he began his spiritual retreat.
POPE FRANCIS
This afternoon, together with the Curia members, we will begin the Spiritual Exercises. I invite all communities and the faithful to dedicate this time of Lent and this year of preparation for the Jubilee, which is the “Year of Prayer,” specific moments to gather in the presence of the Lord.
In the past, it was the custom for the Pope and the heads of the Curia to leave Rome for the Spiritual Exercises. But, for the last few years, they have been making this annual retreat at the Vatican. The Pope has suspended all his public and private events until Friday afternoon.
During this last event before his retreat, Pope Francis mourned the increasing violence in Sudan and in Mozambique—particularly the latter, where a Catholic mission was set on fire.
JRB
TR: KG
