Especially with fasting and almsgiving, Lent is a time to learn how to see others with the eyes of Christ and to express his compassion for the poor, Pope Benedict XVI says in his message for Lent 2006.

In the message, the pope encourages Catholics to try during Lent to see and to react to those suffering around them with the same attitude Jesus showed in St Matthew's Gospel, which says, “ Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved with pity .”

Responding to the needs of others like Christ means not only meeting their material needs, but also offering them the Gospel, the Pope says in his message.

While poverty and underdevelopment are “an outrage against humanity,” he said, economic programmes alone cannot provide everything necessary for full human development.

Development also “involves the proclamation of the truth of Christ, who educates consciences and teaches the authentic dignity of the person and of work,” the pope said.

Each and every Christian has an obligation to be personally involved in promoting development with gifts of time, money, prayer and action, he said.

Especially during Lent, he said, Christians must try to model themselves on Jesus, bearing “the material and spiritual needs of their neighbours.”

Each year, the papal Lenten message focuses on charity and is distributed by the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, which promotes and coordinates Catholic charitable activity.

The Lenten message is addressed specifically to the faithful who want to make Lent a fruitful period for the development of their spiritual lives.

(CNS)