As Scripture tells us, Christ was made to bear our sins (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). In doing so, God the Father placed the weight of our wrongdoing on His own Son. Pope Benedict XVI once described this profound moment as a “turning of God against Himself” (Deus Caritas Est, 12)—a powerful expression of divine love that reaches even those who stand opposed to Him (see Matthew 5:43–48).
A Conversation That Transforms
The kind of relationship God desires with each of us through the death and resurrection of Jesus goes far beyond casual or shallow conversation. It’s not like the idle chatter described in Acts 17:21, where the people of Athens spent their time on whatever was new or trending. That kind of surface-level curiosity—then and now—reflects a worldly mindset, which we often see today in the careless or excessive use of media.
A Gift to Be Shared, Not Stored Away
Putting Christ’s sacrifice at the center of our lives calls us to recognize His suffering in the pain of others: the innocent victims of war, the violence done to life from the womb to old age, and all who suffer from injustice. This suffering also includes the damage done to our environment, the unfair use of natural resources, human trafficking, and the relentless drive for profit—an obsession that can become a kind of modern-day idolatry.
Now more than ever, we’re called to act. Those with open hearts and goodwill should share what they have through acts of generosity and almsgiving, helping to build a more compassionate and just world. True charity strengthens our humanity. But when we cling tightly to what we have, we risk being consumed by selfishness. At the same time, we’re called to look deeper—beyond individual acts—to the broader structures of our economic systems.
That’s why this Lent, from March 26–28, I’m hosting a meeting in Assisi with young economists, entrepreneurs, and innovators. The goal is to imagine and promote a more just and inclusive economy. As the Church has consistently taught, getting involved in public life and politics is one of the highest forms of charity (see Pope Pius XI, Address to the Italian Federation).
