Pope’s tweet says sickness, death not taboos

March 21, 2014 - Pope Francis on Friday posted a message on the social media, exhorting Christians not to regard sickness and death as taboos. “Sickness and death are not taboo subjects. They are realities that we must face in Jesus’ presence,” the Pope micro-blogged on his Twitter account @pontifex. The exhortation came on Friday, a day during the Lenten period when Christians are particularly encouraged to observe fast and abstinence. Lent is a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, abstinence and good works by Christians in preparation for their annual commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus culminating in Easter, his glorious resurrection. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, when Christians are marked with blessed ashes, as a reminder of death, penance and sacrifice.