VATICAN CITY, MARCH 2, 2009 (Zenit.org</a>).- Benedict XVI and the Roman Curia spent the day reflecting and praying on the role God has in their lives.
The Pope and his immediate collaborators are in the silence of retreat through Saturday, following a Lenten tradition of taking time to dedicate themselves exclusively to prayer; their first meditation was Sunday evening.
Cardinal Francis Arinze, retired prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, is preaching on the theme of «The Priest Meets Jesus and Follows Him.»
Today, the meditations have focused on the idea: «The priest follows Jesus to find God, who should have the first place in their lives.»
Cardinal Arinze told Vatican Radio that he chose the themes because «every Christian life can be considered as hearing Jesus’ call to follow him.»
«And, given that the majority of those who participate in the [spiritual] exercises with the Holy Father are priests — presbyters, bishops, cardinals — I have thought of this title,» he said.
During the spiritual exercises, all the public audiences of the Pontiff are suspended.