Vatican City, Feb 10, 2008 / 10:28 am
The Holy Father greeted thousands of pilgrims gathered below his study in St. Peter’s Square today. Before praying the Angelus, he addressed the theme of Lent, saying it is “a time to look evil in the face and combat its effects.”
“What does it mean to enter into Lent? It is the beginning of a particular time of penance to combat the evil present in the world, to look evil in the face and combat its effects,” Benedict XVI challenged.
The Pope told those gathered that Lent is a time to look the evil in our lives in the face, and to combat its causes, especially the ultimate cause, Satan.
“The problem of evil,” he said, “cannot be cast onto others, society, or God.” Rather, Pope Benedict said each person must recognize his own responsibility. It is urgent, he added, that we Christians respond to the invitation of Jesus.