Pope Francis' Lenten Message 2024: Freedom In The Desert
Posted on February 9, 2024
Vatican City (CNS) Could the Lenten season truly be a transformative journey, a path away from the chains of modern-day slavery and towards the embrace of spiritual renewal and freedom? Pope Franciss Lenten message for 2024 offers a resounding affirmation, casting the season as a sacred pilgrimage inspired by the biblical Exodus.
By Matthew Santucci/Catholic News Agency, Pope Francis has centered his Lenten message for 2024 on the profound narrative of the Book of Exodus, selecting Through the Desert God Leads Us to Freedom as its central theme. This pivotal choice serves to encourage the faithful that Lent represents a transformative voyage, one that transitions from the shackles of bondage to the liberating experience of spiritual renewal and authentic freedom. The Popes reflection is artfully framed around the Israelites' momentous departure from Egypt, a story that, as Pope Francis underscores, transcends its historical context to speak directly to the contemporary world.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) |
| Born | December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Nationality | Argentine, Italian |
| Religious Order | Society of Jesus (Jesuits) |
| Ordained Priest | December 13, 1969 |
| Ordained Bishop | June 28, 1992 |
| Appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires | February 28, 1998 |
| Created Cardinal | February 21, 2001, by Pope John Paul II |
| Elected Pope | March 13, 2013 |
| Pontificate Start Date | March 19, 2013 |
| Previous Roles |
|
| Key Writings/Encyclicals |
|
| Significant Actions/Initiatives |
|
| Known For |
|
| Website Reference | Vatican Website |
This year's Lenten message, as Pope Francis has articulated, underscores the vital theme of liberation, drawing compelling parallels between the ancient Exodus narrative and the ongoing struggles for freedom in the contemporary world. It is a message that calls for a profound re-evaluation of our lives and our societies, urging us to actively listen to the cries of the oppressed, to confront the idolsboth personal and societalthat bind us, and to embrace a Lenten season marked by an intensified commitment to prayer, fasting, and communal action.
The core of the Popes message, presented as the "Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for Lent 2024," echoes the timeless proclamation of freedom. When our God reveals himself, his message is always one of freedom: I am the Lord your God, a declaration that resonates with the foundational tenets of faith and the human yearning for liberation.
Here is Pope Francis' full Lenten message:
Dear brothers and sisters, Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ's victory over The message continues, setting the tone for a season of reflection and spiritual preparation.
The message of His Holiness Pope Francis for Lent 2024, focusing on Through the desert God leads us to freedom, is a call to action and introspection.
The fundamental truth underpinning Pope Francis' message is that when God reveals Himself, His message is always one of freedom. This freedom is not merely the absence of physical constraints, but a deeper liberation from the internal and external forces that hold us captive. The message proclaims: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery (Ex 20:2). These words, the very beginning of the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments, are a testament to Gods liberating power, reminding us that He desires freedom for all His children.
Adding a visual dimension to the message, an illustration by Mauro Pallotta, known as Maupal, was presented during a news conference at the Vatican in February. This artistic collaboration, wherein a new drawing by Pallotta will be unveiled each week throughout Lent (which began on February 14, Ash Wednesday, and concludes on March 28, Holy Thursday), serves to visually reinforce the Popes teachings.
The Holy Father extends an invitation to embark on a Lenten journey through the desert, guided by God, who promises freedom from the chains of slavery and idolatry. He challenges us to listen attentively to the cries of our brothers and sisters, to actively combat the deficit of hope prevalent in our world, and to consistently choose fraternity and justice over division and indifference.
The Pope's guidance encourages us to remember the call to "not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up." And to keep in mind the words: "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem" (Mt 20:18), a journey towards a time for renewing faith, hope, and love.
Recognizing that the word is a gift, the Pope urges the faithful to deeply consider the transformative journey from bondage to emancipation, a spiritual renewal achievable through the practices of Lent, all inspired by the narrative of Exodus. Pope Francis urges the faithful to actively listen to the cry of the poor, to open their eyes to the realities of the world, and to rediscover the synodal form of the Church, walking together in faith and solidarity.
In his message for Lent 2024, Pope Francis invites the faithful to pause for prayer, acknowledging its indispensable role in spiritual growth, and to extend a hand to those in need. These actions, he emphasizes, are crucial for not only changing our own lives but also for bringing positive transformation to our communities. The following is the text of the message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2024, on the theme:
Through the desert God leads us to freedom:
When our God reveals himself, his message is always one of freedom: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery (Ex 20:2).
The central theme of the message is Through the desert God leads us to freedom, a theme inspired by the profound story of the Exodus. Pope Francis calls upon Christians to engage in periods of pause, prayer, and active steps toward conversion, cultivating hope, and making communitarian decisions during this Lenten season.
The message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2024, released on February 1, 2024, emphasizes the importance of this period. The following is the text of the message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2024, on the theme:
Through the desert God leads us to freedom:
The visual companion to the message, an illustration by Mauro Pallotta, the artist known as Maupal, was unveiled during a news conference at the Vatican in February. As mentioned before, a new drawing by Pallotta will be presented each week throughout Lent, which began on February 14, Ash Wednesday, and concludes on March 28, Holy Thursday.
A press conference was livestreamed from the Holy See Press Office on the morning of February 1st, to present the message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2024, on the theme: Through the desert God leads us to freedom.
In the spirit of hope, may the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Hope, intercede for us and accompany us on our Lenten journey.
Rome, Saint John Lateran, February 6, 2025. Memorial of St. Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs. Encyclical Letter Dilexit nos (October 24, 2024), 220.
Vatican City, February 25, 2025 / 10:55 am. In his message for Lent 2025, Pope Francis underscored the significance of living ones life as a constant journey of conversion, choosing to walk in peace.
Rome Newsroom, February 1, 2024 / 14:30 pm (CNA). Pope Francis has centered his Lenten message for 2024 on the Book of Exodus, choosing Through the desert God leads us to freedom as its main theme, with the intention of encouraging the faithful that the season is a journey from bondage to spiritual renewal and freedom.
Pope Francis has centered his Lenten message for 2024 on the Book of Exodus, choosing Through the desert God leads us to freedom as its main theme to encourage the faithful that the season...
Message of His Holiness for Lent 2024.
Press Conference to present the message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2024.
Rome Newsroom, February 1, 2024 / 14:30 pm. Pope Francis has centered his Lenten message for 2024 on the Book of Exodus, choosing Through the desert God leads us to freedom as its main theme to encourage the faithful that the season is a journey from bondage to spiritual renewal and freedom. This season provides a unique opportunity to examine hearts, renew faith, and extend Gods mercy to others, ultimately drawing nearer to the victory of Christ over sin and death. It underscores the importance of self-reflection and spiritual growth.
The Pope suggested that 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, as he wrote in his message for Lent 2025.
The following is the text of the Holy Father Francis message for Lent 2025, on the theme Let us journey together in hope:
Message of the Holy Father.
Let us journey together in hope.
Dear brothers and sisters, we begin our annual pilgrimage of Lent in faith and hope with the penitential rite of the imposition of ashes. May the hope that does not disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5), the central message of the Jubilee, be the focus of our Lenten journey towards the victory of Easter.
As Pope Benedict XVI taught us in the encyclical Spe Salvi, the human being needs unconditional love.
Rome Pope Francis has centered his Lenten message for 2024 on the Book of Exodus, choosing Through the desert God leads us to freedom as its main theme to encourage the faithful that the season is a journey from bondage to spiritual renewal and freedom.
Pope Francis' message for Lent 2025 has as its theme, Let us journey together in hope.
This year's Lenten season began on March 5, Ash Wednesday, and ends on April 17, Holy Thursday.
April 25, 2025, Diocesan Mass for the Suffrage of the Soul of Pope
ACS sends condolence message to Catholic Bishops and community on death
Lent Season 2025 Catholic Eliza J. Hailes
