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Walk Together in Hope and Compassion

March 10, 2025

 

(NadyaEugene / Shutterstock.com)

From the Office for Social Ministry

“This Lent, as we share in the grace of the Jubilee Year, I would like to propose a few reflections on what it means to journey together in hope, and on the summons to conversion that God in his mercy addresses to all of us, as individuals and as a community.” - Pope Francis, Message for Lent 2025

As Pope Francis recently lay seriously sick in a hospital bed, he sent out a worldwide Lenten message, urging us to reflect on how we can respond to the most vulnerable among us. He compassionately suggested “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 … so that we can better advance on our journey to the house of the Father.” The pope underscores the parallel between the 40 days of Lent and the Israelites’ 40 years in the desert seeking the Promised Land. He also connects the Lenten theme of “conversion” and the Jubilee 2025 them calling all to be “Pilgrims of Hope.” Our Holy Father points out: “ A first call to conversion comes from the realization that all of us are pilgrims in this life.” As fellow pilgrims in this life, we are called to conversion and to learn from one another’s trials by walking together in hope.

Pope Francis reminds us that Lent is a communal journey calling us to live in solidarity, ensuring no one is left behind: “Christians are called to walk at the side of others, and never as lone travelers…It is the vocation of the Church to walk together in the same direction, tending towards the same goal, attentive to one another in love and patience.” And so, he urges us all to: “Journey together in hope … to trust in God and focus our Lenten journey towards the victory of Easter.”

One way to share the Lenten journey together is through the prayer, fasting and alms giving Rice Bowl initiative of the US Bishop’s Catholic Relief Services (CRS.) CRS is part of Caritas Internationalis—a global network of 162 Catholic relief organizations operating in more than 200 countries. Caritas provides emergency aid, healthcare, and essential services to the world’s most vulnerable populations. Recently, Caritas Internationalis has condemned a wave of severe cutbacks in international development aid by some of the world’s wealthiest nations. Recently Caritas Catholic leaders expressed grave concern, warning that these latest cutbacks will worsen deadly hunger, war, and poverty. In their compelling collective letter, Caritas declared: “Turning away from the world’s most vulnerable is not just strategically reckless—it is morally indefensible. Now is the moment for leadership that prioritizes compassion, solidarity, and a shared vision for a better world. We must not forsake those who need us most.”

Among the many very vulnerable persons affected is Amina Bukar, a mother of five from Nigeria, where more than 25 million people face dying from extreme hunger. When violence forced her family to flee their village, they lost everything. With support from CRS Rice Bowl, Amina rebuilt her life. Today, she teaches other mothers and caregivers how to nourish their families and communities so that they are able to not only survive, but actually thrive! This Lent, let us heed Pope Francis’s call to walk in solidarity with those who need us most. For more CRS Lenten Stories of Hope please visit www.crsricebowl.org or https://officeforsocialministry.org/crs-rice-bowl-lent-2025-week-1/. Mahalo!