According to the Catholic News Service Pope Francis has chosen the theme, “He became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich,” for this year’s Lenten message, said a Vatican statement Jan. 31.
The theme comes from a verse from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians where the apostle is promoting generosity in giving and wishes to “test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others.”
The text of the pope’s message for Lent, which begins March 5, was to be released at a Feb. 4. Vatican news Conference/
Of special note to the Vincentian Family and it Vincentian Family Haiti Initiative is the report that Haiti was expected to be a focus for the Lenten season. A married Italian couple serving as missionaries in the Caribbean nation were scheduled to speak at the Vatican news conference along with top officials from the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, which promotes Catholic charitable giving.
(See more at: http://www.catholicreview.org/article/home/pope-francis-first-lenten-message-to-focus-on-poverty-generosity )
In his 2013 letter as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio shows the intense concern he’s always had for the poor. He chose to reflect on a verse from the Book of Joel which says:
Rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. –Joel 2:13
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