Pope Benedict XVI marks Lent with salute to religious leaders

Mar 1, 2006, 13:53 GMT

Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI marked the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday by greeting a delegation of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders attending together his general audience at the Vatican.

'In particular I greet the delegation of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders from America,' the pope said at the end of an audience in St. Peter's Square attended by an estimated 12,000 people.

The gesture was seen as particularly significant for inter- religious dialogue, coming at a time in which tension is running high in the Muslim world due to the publication by Western media of controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

The 78-year-old pope noted that Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day penitential period during which Christians prepare spiritually for Easter.

'Dear Brothers and Sisters,' the pope said, 'today we begin our Lenten journey, when the Church invites us to ponder Christ's saving work, to live out more deeply the reality of our Baptism and to draw rich nourishment from the Sacred Scripture.'

The pope said Lent was a time in which Catholics should be 'attentive to the needs of our suffering brothers and sisters.'

Lent marks a particularly intense period for the German-born pontiff. On March 5 he will begin his Lenten retreat and all papal audiences will be suspended.

On March 24, the College of Cardinals will meet with the pope in a public consistory in which 15 new cardinals will be installed.

The pope will then preside over a number of ceremonies leading up to Easter Sunday, which this year falls on April 16.