March 16, 2011. Benedict XVI began his spiritual exercises with the cardinals of the Roman curia, in preparation for Easter. During the one week retreat he will spend his time in prayer and meditation. All the cardinals of the Roman Curia were invited to attend.


Fr. François-Marie Lethel
Preacher for Papal Spiritual Exercises
“The spiritual retreat is for all Christians, for religious, priests, and to all the faithful. It's usually a week of silence, of reflection and conversion. Each year the Pope and the Roman Curia hold it during the first week of Lent, because it is a special time of conversion.”

The priest and Carmelite is responsible for preaching the meditations during the pope's retreat. The theme is “The light of Christ in the heart of the Church. John Paul II and the Theology of the saints.” It's a way to prepare for the beatification of John Paul II.

Fr. François-Marie Lethel
Preacher for Papal Spiritual Exercises
“We had to present these spiritual exercises as a preparation for the big event of the year, the beatification of John Paul II. Then I thought of this picture of Blessed Fra Angelico who is on the cover of the book used in the exercises.”

According to the Carmelite François-Marie Lethel, the picture of a group of saints that come together symbolizes the universal call to holiness.

Fr. François-Marie Lethel
Preacher for Papal Spiritual Exercises
“John Paul II will lead this circle in which everyone is called to holiness. Everyone from the pope, the Cardinals, me, and to all the faithful. The saints in this painting are friends that come together and help each other on the road to sainthood. John Paul II, with the grace of his beatification, will guide everyone during the retreat.”

The Carmelite priest dedicated the meditations to the saints and blesseds related to John Paul II, such as St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, from whom John Paul II took the motto “Totus Tuus.” As well as St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who was named a Doctor of the Church for being an expert in the “Science of Love.”
As an example of “Science of faith,” St. Anselmo and St. Thomas Aquinas were proposed, while St. Catherine of Siena and St. Joan of Arc will be models of reform and fidelity to the Church.

Among the lay saints, he will speak about the French writer Charles Péguy, the Mexican Concepción Cabrera, who was the mother of nine children, and the young Italian Chiara Luce Badano, the first blessed of the Focolare Movement.

During the retreat, the Pope doesn't hold official meetings, or make public appearances. However, he does commit about an hour at the end of each day to take care of any pressing matters with the Church.

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