NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN CITY, 18 (NE) The Holy Father stated yesterday that Lent "is a time when God shows a particular fondness in forgiving our sins: it is the time of reconciliation." In his Wednesday General Audience in the Pope Paul VI Hall, the Pope recalled that the "austere ceremony of the imposition of ashes" is the beginning of the "penitential itinerary of Lent."

      The Pope's words invited the faithful to meditate on that Parable of the Prodigal Son that "describes in a simple and profound way the reality of conversion manifesting the most concrete expression of the merciful intervention of God in the human world." The Pontiff, that in so many occasions has commented this passage of the Gospel, referred in particular to the paternal embrace, pointing out that this symbolizes perfectly "the topic of this introductory year to the Great Jubilee of the year 2000."

      Reflecting on the passage more in depth, he also manifested that "the embrace of reconciliation between the Father and the whole of the sinful humanity occurred in the Calvary." Upon concluding, the Successor of Peter invited the faithful to pilgrim in this time of Lent "with our eyes fixed on Christ, our only Redeemer," reminding also that "our reconciliation with God is made effective thanks to an authentic conversion."