Let the Lord cleanse you, purify you and transform you into a unique masterpiece, Pope Leo XIV told the faithful on Feb 22 first Sunday of Lent during his midday Angelus address in the Vatican.
In his address, the Pope recalled the day’s Gospel reading according to St. Matthew, in which Jesus enters the desert and is tempted by the devil (cf. Mt 4:1–11). After fasting for forty days, the Pope noted that physically, through hunger, and morally, through the devil’s temptations, Christ feels the weight of his humanity. “He experiences the same struggle we all face on our journey,” Pope Leo recognized. Yet, he marveled, “by resisting the evil one, He demonstrates how we, too, can overcome the devil’s deception and snares.”
“In this time of grace,” Pope Leo said, “let us practice penance generously, alongside prayer and works of mercy.” “Let us create space for silence by turning off televisions, radios and cell phones for a while,” the Pope stressed, instead suggesting we “meditate on the Word of God, approach the Sacraments, and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit who speaks to us in our heart.” Saying we ought to listen to one another in our families, workplaces and communities, the Pope urged everyone to pay special attention to those who are alone, especially the elderly, the poor and the sick.
