Spiritual Exercises begin

At 6:00pm this evening (1:00pm EDT), the First Sunday of Lent, the annual retreat for the Roman Curia and the Holy Father will begin at the Casa Divin Maestro in Ariccia.

The daily meditations will be presented by Abbot Bernardo Francesco Maria Gianni, OSB Oliv., from the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte, and will have as their common thread, the theme: The city of ardent desires: Easter glances and gestures in life and in the world.

The Spiritual Exercises will conclude on Friday 15 March.

During the week of the Spiritual Exercises, all papal audiences, including the General Audience for Wednesday, 13 March are suspended.