Pope begins annual spiritual retreat

(February 27, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI began his annual spiritual retreat Sunday evening and will conclude it on Saturday. Hence during this period all his appointments have been suspended, including his Wednesday general audience. Heads of the various Vatican offices and departments are also joining the Pope in the spiritual retreat, simply called retreat or also spiritual exercises, during which participants listen to a preacher who guides them in meditation and prayer in order to deepen their relationship with God. This year, Pope Benedict chose as his retreat preacher Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Congo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, who will base his reflections on the verse from the First Letter of St. John: “For our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” The Pope normally begins his annual retreat on the Sunday following Ash Wednesday, that marks the start of the 40-day Lenten period in preparation for Easter. At the end of his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer in the Vatican on Sunday Pope Benedict asked everyone to pray for all those joining him in the retreat.