For our sake, Christ bore the burden of sin (cf. 2 Cor 5:21). As Pope Benedict XVI wrote, this represents a kind of “turning of God against Himself” (Deus Caritas Est, 12), revealing a love that extends even to His enemies (cf. Mt 5:43–48). In this way, God enters into genuine dialogue with every person through the Paschal Mystery—far beyond superficial talk or curiosity, like that of the Athenians who only wanted “to hear something new” (Acts 17:21), or the shallow distractions often found in modern media.
Centering life on the Paschal Mystery also calls believers to recognize Christ in those who suffer today: innocent victims of war, violence against life, environmental destruction, human trafficking, and systems driven by the pursuit of profit at any cost. Lent, in this sense, becomes a time of conversion—an invitation to give rather than accumulate, and to build a more just and compassionate society. Almsgiving restores our humanity, while selfishness ultimately diminishes it.
From March 26–28 in Assisi, I will meet with young economists, entrepreneurs, and innovators to encourage reflection on a more equitable economy, recognizing politics as a genuine expression of charity when ordered toward the common good. Through the intercession of Mary, may this season of Lent renew our hearts, reconcile us with God, and make us truly “salt of the earth and light of the world” (cf. Mt 5:13–14).
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