In his Lenten message, Pope Francis called on believers to seek conversion in the light of God's mercy through three paths: pilgrimage, the synodal way, and hope.

In a message titled "We Walk Together in Hope," the Holy Father explained that the Church calls for preparing hearts and opening up to God's grace during Lent to celebrate with great joy the Paschal victory of Christ over sin and death. He focused on the three parts of the title: "walking," "together," and "in hope," in connection with the Jubilee 2025 theme, "Pilgrims of Hope.

Protected by Hope, the Anchor of the Soul:

Francis emphasized that conversion is necessary because we are all pilgrims on the journey of life. He urged everyone to ask themselves whether they are truly seeking paths of liberation from sin and lack of dignity, or if they are paralyzed by fears and lack of hope. He suggested that encountering a displaced person or a pilgrim during Lent could help us discover what God asks of us, making us better travelers on the way to the Father's house.

The Holy Father added that the pilgrimage journey is "together" in a synodal way, calling for synodal conversion. He noted that the Holy Spirit pushes us to go beyond ourselves towards God and our brothers and sisters, making us builders of unity based on the shared dignity of God's children. He called for love, patience, and listening.

He asked believers to convert to hope and question whether they are convinced that God forgives sins or if they behave as if they could save themselves alone. He encouraged them to think about whether they long for salvation, seek God's help, live hope, read historical events accordingly, work for justice and brotherhood, care for the common home, and not abandon others.

Francis stressed that walking is in hope, with the promise that death has become a victory and Christ's resurrection has become Christians' great faith and hope. He concluded the message by explaining that we are protected by hope that does not disappoint because of God's love for us in Jesus Christ. He regarded hope as the sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.