Pope on week-long Lenten retreat

(March 2, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI began his annual spiritual retreat on Sunday evening in the Vatican, together with officials of the Roman curia. The annual retreat that takes place in the first week of Lent will conclude on Saturday. Hence all of the Holy Father’s public appointments, including Wednesday’s general audience will be suspended this week. During his Sunday ‘Angelus’, Pope Benedict urged for the intercession of the holy angels for the retreat. "Let us ask them, especially today, to watch over me and my co-workers," he said." Cardinal Francis Arinze, retired prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, is preaching the Pope’s retreat on the theme of "The Priest Meets Jesus and Follows Him."