Pope Benedict XVI Starts Retreat Sunday

(March 10, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI will spend next week in prayer as he does his annual Lenten spiritual exercises, this year focused on John Paul II and the theology of the saints. Discalced Carmelite Father François-Marie Léthel will preach the March 13-19 retreat. Father Léthel is a professor at the Pontifical Theological Faculty (Teresianum), and prelate-secretary of the Pontifical Academy of Theology. The exercises will begin at 6 p.m. in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, with vespers, the introductory meditation, Eucharistic adoration and benediction. The Holy Father and the Curia will join together for the Divine Office each day of the retreat, and hear three mediations. On the last day, which coincides with the Solemnity of St. Joseph, lauds will be celebrated at 9 a.m., followed by the closing meditation. All papal audiences are suspended during the Pope's retreat, including the general audience of March 16. Father Léthel explained the subject chosen this year and stressed that in the spirit of Lenten conversion, it is an ideal preparation for the May 1 beatification of Pope John Paul II. He described the late Pope as "inseparably a pastor, a missionary, a mystic, a thinker and a poet. Formed at the school of saints -- especially St. Louis Marie de Montfort, St. John of the Cross and St. Thomas -- in his pontificate he gave a new place to saints, considered not only as examples of Christian perfection, but as the best theologians, with the knowledge of God, even if they had not studied academic theology." Father Léthel mentioned in this connection the proclamation of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Catherine of Siena, as doctors of the Church. During the exercises, the preacher explained, the saints will be the point of reference to look to and the voice to listen to, with particular attention turned to the women. Finally, the preacher will close the exercises with the figure of St. Joseph, the protector of the Redeemer and of Venerable Giuseppe Quadrio, a Salesian priest and theologian who died in 1963.