VATICAN: “Let us Journey Together in Hope”, Pope Francis Message 2025 Lenten Season
Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
In his 2025 Lenten message themed, “Let Us Journey Together in Hope”, Pope Francis has emphasized the importance of walking in faith, unity, and trust in God’s promises during this year’s Lenten season, and proposed three points of reflection on journeying together, and summons to conversion.
Explaining on what it means to “journey together”, the head of the Catholic Church noted that it is hard to think about the Biblical exodus without thinking of our brothers and sisters who in our days are fleeing situations of misery and violence in search of better life for themselves and their loved ones, and called upon all Christian to stop and reflect on how their lives reflects the fact that we are all pilgrims in this life, and compare their daily life with that of some migrants or foreigners, to learn how to sympathize with their experiences and in the process discover what God is asking them during this Lenten season.
“It is hard to think of the biblical exodus without also thinking of those of our brothers and sisters who in our own day are fleeing situations of misery and violence in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones. A first call to conversion thus comes from the realization that all of us are pilgrims in this life; each of us is invited to stop and ask how our lives reflect this fact,” he says.
“Am I really on a journey, or am I standing still, not moving, either immobilized by fear and hopelessness or reluctant to move out of my comfort zone? Am I seeking ways to leave behind the occasions of sin and situations that degrade my dignity? It would be a good Lenten exercise for us to compare our daily life with that of some migrant or foreigner, to learn how to sympathize with their experiences and in this way discover what God is asking of us so that we can better advance on our journey to the house of the Father,” continues Pope Francis’s message.
Reflecting on the second meaning of journeying together, the Holy Father pointed out on the call of the Church to be a synodal Church, cautioning Christians not to be a lone traveler but to walk side by side, same direction, tending towards the same goal, attentive to one another in love and patience.
“Second, to journey together: the Church is called to walk together, to be Synodal, Christians are called to walk at the side of others, and never as lone travelers. The Holy Spirit impels us not to remain self-absorbed, but to leave ourselves behind and keep walking towards God and our brothers and sisters. Journeying together means consolidating the unity grounded in our common dignity as children of God. It means walking side-by-side, without shoving or stepping on others, without envy or hypocrisy, without letting anyone be left behind or excluded. Let us all walk in the same direction, tending towards the same goal, attentive to one another in love and patience”.
In his message, he asked Christians to resist the temptation of becoming self-absorbed, thinking only of their own needs but to examine if they are capable of working together with others, listening to them.
“This Lent, God is asking us to examine whether in our lives, in our families, in the places where we work and spend our time, we are capable of walking together with others, listening to them, resisting the temptation to become self-absorbed and to think only of our own needs”.
He added, “Let us ask ourselves in the presence of the Lord whether, as bishops, priests, consecrated persons and laity in the service of the Kingdom of God, we cooperate with others. Whether we show ourselves welcoming, with concrete gestures, to those both near and far. Whether we make others feel a part of the community or keep them at a distance”.
Drawing from Pope Benedict’s XVI’s Encyclical Spe Salvi for the third call to conversation, and journeying together, the Holy Father underscored those human being needs unconditional love and certainty in God’s promise.
“The human being needs unconditional love. He needs the certainty which makes him say: ‘neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
He encouraged believers to ask themselves; “Am I convinced that the Lord forgives my sins? Or do I act as if I can save myself? Do I long for salvation and call upon God’s help to attain it? Do I concretely experience the hope that enables me to interpret the events of history and inspires in me a commitment to justice and fraternity, to care for our common home and in such a way that no one feels excluded?
