Vatican City: Fr Roberto Pasolini, the Preacher of the Papal Household, delivered the first Lenten meditation of this year on March 6, reflecting on the Christian call to humility and conversion. Pope Leo XIV was present for the sermon held in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican.
The series of Friday meditations during Lent will continue until March 27. The reflections are based on the theme “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation” from the Second Letter to the Corinthians and draw inspiration from the life and spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi.
In his first meditation, titled “Conversion: Following the Lord Jesus on the Path of Humility,” the Capuchin friar said that in a world marked by pain and violence, speaking about becoming small might appear unrealistic. Yet he explained that humility is not a spiritual luxury but a practical responsibility connected to the future of the world.
According to Fr Pasolini, peace is not created only through political agreements or military strategies. It begins in the hearts of people who find the courage to be small. Such courage is shown when individuals step back, reject violence, resist the temptation of revenge or domination and choose dialogue even in difficult situations.
He described this path as a daily and demanding task for all who recognize themselves as children of God. Conversion of the heart, he said, is part of the responsibility of every believer.
Reflecting on Saint Francis of Assisi, Fr Pasolini described the saint as a man deeply transformed by the Gospel who inspires others to desire a new life in the Spirit. He said that understanding conversion correctly is essential because a wrong starting point could lead to building faith on weak foundations.
Evangelical conversion, he explained, begins with God’s initiative. Human beings respond freely to this grace, which awakens the image of God present deep within each person.
The preacher noted that Saint Francis spoke of “doing penance” as a change in the way people see others. It means learning to view the world with mercy and through the light of the Gospel. This transformation removes the bitterness of a life that may appear full but lacks its true meaning.
Conversion, he said, is not about fixing life by one’s own effort. Instead, it is a response to the grace that reshapes how people think, judge and desire.
Fr Pasolini also spoke about the meaning of sin in modern society. He observed that the word sin has almost disappeared from common understanding and is often reduced to a simple mistake or weakness. When sin is ignored, he said, people risk forgetting the seriousness of human freedom and responsibility.
Recognizing sin reminds people that their freedom can build or destroy their own lives, the lives of others and the world around them. For this reason, a deep healing is needed to restore the relationship with God through repeated choices to live in love and freedom.
The preacher also reflected on humility, which he described as central to the life of Saint Francis. Humility and poverty, he explained, flow from the mystery of the Incarnation and reveal the way God himself chooses to be present.
Humility does not diminish human dignity. Instead, it helps people rediscover their true identity by freeing them from an inflated image of themselves. It is not simply an exercise of discipline but a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Fr Pasolini said that the greatness of a person often appears through their smallness. Saint Francis discovered that God reveals his power in the lives of the smallest and most humble.
He added that the weakness and fragility of the little ones awaken mercy in others, and mercy may be one of the most precious energies in the world. Choosing to become small after recognizing God’s love is not a step backward but the true face of the new life given through baptism.
The Capuchin friar concluded by reminding listeners that conversion is a lifelong journey. Christians remain sinners who continually seek holiness through the grace of the Spirit. Conversion means beginning again each day, opening one’s weakness and poverty to God.
The meditation ended with a prayer inspired by Saint Francis, inviting believers to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ with humility and trust.