VATICAN - At the Angelus prayer the Pope says “Lent calls us to make a special effort on our spiritual journey” urging those present to make Lent “a generous competition in showing solidarity” with children especially those in most danger and difficulty

Vatican City (Fides Service) - On the first Sunday of Lent, 29 February, from his study window overlooking St Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II prayed the customary Angelus prayer with visitors gathered for the occasion and he reflected on the special liturgical season: “The Gospel tells us that after Christ had been baptised by John in the river Jordan he was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert where he stayed for forty days. The Gospel passage reminds us of the three well known temptations which are the echo of the old trickery with which Satan caused the fall of our first parents. But Christ, the new Adam, overcomes temptation and resolutely rejects the tempter... Jesus’ triumph over the evil one assures us that we will not fail at the moment of trial if we remained united to the Lord. In this prospective Lent invites us to make a special effort on our spiritual journey.”
The Holy Father mentioned his Message for Lent this year dedicated in particular to children “not rarely innocent victims of man’s evildoing”: “May this season of the Liturgical year become a competition in generous solidarity in favour of these little ones, especially those in most danger and difficulty.” After the Angelus prayer the Pope spoke of the critical situation in Haiti encouraging “all Haitians to have the courage and the humility to take the decisions best for the good of the country. While I encourage the international Community’s diplomatic activity and call for generous commitment on the part of humanitarian organisations, I send a special blessing to the beloved Haitian people.”
(S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/3/2004 - Righe 18; Parole 255)