Pope invites Roman Curia to dedicate a week to Spiritual Exercises

By Vatican News staff reporter

The Holy See Press Office announced on Friday that Pope Francis has invited all Cardinals residing in Rome, heads of Dicasteries, and Superiors of the Roman Curia to take a week for prayer in Lent.

The Pope called on top officials of the Roman Curia to “experience in a personal way a period of Spiritual Exercises”.

In order to facilitate their personal retreat, he urged them to suspend their “work activities and engage in prayer from the afternoon of Sunday, 26 February, to the afternoon of Friday, 3 March.

This period of Spiritual Exercises coincides with the first Week of Lent.

The Press Office statement also noted that Pope Francis’ engagements will be suspended during that week, including the Wednesday General Audience of 1 March.