The Holy Father invites the Cardinals resident in Rome, the heads of Dicasteries and the Superiors of the Roman Curia, to undertake a period of Spiritual Exercises in a personal way, suspending work activities and gathering themselves in prayer from the afternoon of Sunday 26 February until the afternoon of Friday 3 March, the first week of Lent.

In that week, all the Holy Father’s engagements, including the General Audience on Wednesday 1 March, will be suspended.