(February 19, 2009) The recently retired prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship
and the Sacraments will preach Pope Benedict XVI's spiritual exercises this year.
Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze was selected to preach the annual retreat for the
Pope and the Roman Curia, scheduled for March 1-7. The theme of the meditations will
be "The Priest Encounters Christ and Follows Him." During the retreat, the Holy Father
suspends his meetings and audiences and dedicates himself entirely to prayer. The
days of retreat will follow the rhythm of the Liturgy of the Hours and include three
meditations. Each evening, the retreatants will have Eucharistic adoration and benediction.The
last time an African prelate preached the papal retreat was in 1984, when Pope John
Paul II confided the task to Cardinal Alexandre do Nascimento, archbishop of Lubango,
Angola. Pope Benedict XVI is himself headed to Africa for a March 17-23 apostolic
journey to Cameroon and Angola.