Jesus took upon Himself the burden of our sins so that God could place the weight of our failures on His own Son (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). As Pope Benedict XVI once said, this was a moment when God, in a sense, turned against Himself—an expression of love beyond understanding (Deus Caritas Est, 12). Even those who oppose Him are not beyond His embrace (see Matthew 5:43–48).
Through the Paschal Mystery—Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection—God invites each of us into a meaningful, life-changing conversation. This isn’t small talk or shallow curiosity like that of the ancient Athenians, who “spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas” (Acts 17:21). That kind of surface-level chatter is still with us today—in the endless noise of social media, where distraction often takes the place of depth.
To center our lives on the Paschal Mystery is to enter into the suffering of Christ crucified. We see that same suffering in the world around us: in victims of war, in attacks on life from the unborn to the elderly, in violence, in environmental devastation, and in the global injustice of poverty and human trafficking. We even see it in the worship of money, when profit becomes more important than people—a modern form of idolatry.
Now more than ever, we need to respond—not just with feelings of sympathy, but with real action. Sharing what we have with those in need makes us more human; hoarding shrinks our souls and traps us in selfishness. But beyond personal charity, we must also question the systems that shape our world. This is why I’ve called together a gathering in Assisi from March 26 to 28, bringing together young economists, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Together, we’ll work to envision an economy that’s fairer and more inclusive. As the Church has long taught, engaging in politics—done rightly—can be one of the highest forms of charity (see Pope Pius XI, Address to the Italian Federation).
As we journey through Lent, I ask Mary Most Holy to pray for us—to help soften our hearts and renew our relationship with God. Let us keep the Paschal Mystery at the center of our lives. In doing so, we answer Christ’s call to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (see Matthew 5:13–14).
