The health crisis unleashed in so many places by the coronavirus prompts us to reflect on some of Francis' teachings of the past weeks, and makes them resonate now in a singular way.

We refer to his message for Lent, his message for the workshop World Youth Day initially scheduled for early April in Rome, and thirdly, his speech to the Roman clergy on the occasion of Lent.

Call to conversion in a "special Lent".

The Pope's message was centered on a Pauline text: "In the name of Christ we ask you to be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:20). He invites us to look to the Crucified One to rediscover the Paschal Mystery, the foundation of conversion: "Look at the open arms of Christ crucified, let yourself be saved again and again. And when you come to confess your sins, believe firmly in his mercy that frees you from guilt. Contemplate his blood so lovingly shed and let yourself be purified by it. Thus you will be reborn again and again" (Apostolic Exhortation Christus vivit, n. 123).

This time of grace, which is always Lent, is this year strongly tinged by the circumstances - linked to the coronavirus pandemic - that surround us, which have led to the granting of profuse Indulgences (cf. Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, 19-III-2020) by the Holy See.

Much has already been written and will be written about the "lessons" we can draw from this difficult time, in which so many loved ones have left us and many others are seriously damaged or threatened in their lives, their families and their economies.

This is why Francis' words, published months before he could foresee the status in which we find ourselves, specifically on October 7, 2019, the same day that the Amazon Synod opened, become particularly dramatic and significant:

"Placing the Paschal Mystery at the center of life means feeling compassion for the wounds of the crucified Christ present in the many innocent victims of wars, of abuses against the life of both the unborn and the elderly, of the many forms of violence, of environmental disasters, of the unjust distribution of the earth's goods, of human trafficking in all its forms and of the unbridled thirst for profit, which is a form of idolatry."

Perhaps this desire to accumulate - time and research will tell, but also our conscience as Western consumers - is one of the factors that trigger the problems we are experiencing.

For great evils, great remedies, and the reaction of Christians all over the world is one of prayer and penance, huddled together with the Pope and the bishops. Anchored in faith, protected by Our Lady's mantle. Knowing that, even from all this, God can draw great good, counting on our prayer and conversion, our closeness to those who suffer and our work.           

Experience compassion and always stand up for yourself.

The Message for the XXXV World Youth Day 2020 workshop takes up the Lord's words to the son of the widow of Nain: "Young man, I say to you, arise" (Lk 7:14). As a continuation of the Synod on youth and preparation for the great workshop of Lisbon (2022), the Pope wants young people to wake up during these years, to rise up to truly live with Christ.

This is not a sweet and appeasing message. The Pope invites them to look, to "see the pain and death" around them. He is not referring only to what we are contemplating these days, but to the broad panorama - which affects young people themselves to a great extent - of death, even moral and spiritual, emotional and social death. Many are dead because they have lost hope, they live in superficiality or materialism, illusorily savoring their failures. Others have various reasons for suffering.

The Pope invites everyone to look directly, with attentive eyes, without putting mobile in front of them or hiding behind social networks. He invites them to tear down idols, to experience compassion for others (cf. Mt 25:35 ff.).

So many times you have to start by lifting yourself up. Not as a "psychological conditioning" as certain "self-help" advices, so fashionable (believe in yourself, in your positive energy!), pretend, as if they were "magic words" that should solve everything. Because for those who are "dead inside" these words do not work. To let oneself be lifted up by Christ really means a new life, a rebirth, a new creation, a resurrection. And that translates - as happened with the son of the widow of Nain - into rebuilding our relationships with others ("he began to speak": Lk 7:15).

Today there are many young people "in connection", but not so much "in communication". Many live in isolation, withdrawn into virtual worlds, without ever opening up to reality. And this - Francis warns - "does not mean despising technology, but using it as a means and not as an end".

At final, he proposes: "'Arise' also means 'dream', 'risk', 'commit to change the world'". Arise means to be passionate about what is great, what is worthwhile. And great is "to become a witness of Christ and to give one's life for Him".

The Pope concludes with what we could call the million-dollar question for young people: "What are your passions and your dreams?" He entrusts them to Mary, Mother of the Church: "For every one of her children who dies, the Church dies too, and for every child who rises again, she too rises again".

Hope, trust in God, unity

"Bitterness in the life of a priest", was the topic of the Holy Father's speech for the clergy of Rome (read by Cardinal De Donatis), on Thursday, February 27. While most priests are content with their lives and accept certain bitterness as part of life itself, Francis considers it interesting to reflect on the roots and solutions to these "bitternesses". This will make it easier to "look them in the face", touch our humanity and be able to better serve our mission statement.

To help look at these roots, he divides them into three parts: in relation to the faith, to the bishops and to each other.

In relation to faith, he points out the need to distinguish between "expectations" and "hopes". The disciples of Emmaus (cf. Lk 24:21) were talking about their expectations, without realizing that "God is always greater" than our plans, and that his grace is the true protagonist of our lives (to inoculate us against all Pelagianism and Gnosticism).

In our case," Francis points out, "perhaps we lack "attention with God" and trust in Him, reminding ourselves: "God spoke to me and promised me on the day of ordination that mine will be a full life, with the fullness and taste of the Beatitudes".

And for this it is necessary to listen not only to history but also to accept - with the financial aid of spiritual accompaniment - the realities of our life: "Things will go better not only because we change superiors, or mission statement, or strategies, but because we will be consoled by the Word (of God)".

In relation to the bishops, the core topic is in the unity between the bishop and the priests. On the part of the bishop, in the exercise of authority as paternity, prudence, discernment and equity. Thus he will teach to believe, to hope and to love.

In relation to others, Francis promotes fraternity and loyalty, sharing while rejecting the spirit of caution and suspicion. Moreover," he points out, "a good management of solitude is necessary for contemplation, which is, around the Eucharist, the soul of the priestly ministry. But all this, without taking refuge in isolation; not isolating oneself from the grace of God (which leads to rationalism and sentimentalism) or from others: from history, from the "we" of God's holy and faithful people (which would open us to victimhood, the elixir of the devil), who expect from us teachers of the spirit, capable of pointing out the wells of fresh water in the midst of the desert.