Personal and communal conversion, only path to build fairer societies, Pope says

(February 18, 2010) Personal and communal conversion is the “only non-illusory way to build fairer societies, where everyone will have what they need in order to live with human dignity,” said the Pope Benedict XVI. For him, the journey of conversion, which defines Lent, is the path the Church stresses today, at a time when “humanity must hope for a better world, and believe that such a world is possible regardless of the disillusionment caused by everyday life.” The Holy Father said this as he celebrated Ash Wednesday on the 17^th of February at the ancient Roman Basilica of Santa Sabina. The Pope said that accepting ashes "is essentially a gesture of humility, which means that I recognize myself for what I am: a fragile creature made of earth and destined to return to the earth, but also made in the image of God and destined to return to him. Dust, but loved, shaped by his love, moved by his vital breath, capable of recognising his voice and answering him but at the same time also can disobey God, the pope said. The 40 days Jesus spent in the Judean Desert after his Baptism, said the Holy Father was a long period of silence and fasting meant surrendering completely to the Father and his plan of love.” The Pontiff added that the journey of Lent rests on a “God’s almighty love” as its “foundation, on his absolute lordship over every creature. Indeed, forgiving someone means that I do not want you to die, that I want you to live, that I want what is good for you,” he said. "The origin of every material and social injustice is that which the Bible calls 'iniquity' or sin, which basically consists in disobeying God" and not responding to his love, said the Pontiff. The first step to restoring justice in the world is to repent of one's personal sins and sincerely seek to live according to God's will, the pope said. The reward for repentance and good works "is not the admiration of others, but friendship with God and the grace that comes with it, a grace that gives peace and the strength to do good, to love even those who don't deserve it and to forgive those who have offended us," said the Holy Father.