Lent is the 40-day preparation period prior to Easter. This year’s Lent is special. The Church has been surprised and saddened by Benedict XVI’s unexpected resignation.

Yet the universal believing community has also been fortified by the sure hope that Peter’s blessing will soon be steered by a new successor of the Galilean fisherman.

It is our task as Catholics to spiritually join the College of Cardinals in their prayerful discernment to choose the next Pope. On February 13 at his general audience Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said he made his decision to resign out of his concern “for the good of the Church, after much prayer and having examined my conscience before God”. The late Pontiff taught us that true discernment inherently entails the common good, prayer and personal examination of conscience before God.

May we wholeheartedly embrace these three important criteria before taking important decisions that would greatly influence our lives as well as those of others around us. Furthermore, let us support the cardinal electors who will participate in this conclave with our prayers.