Poet priest to write for Pope's Lenten retreat

The Portuguese priest and poet José Tolentino Mendonça has been chosen to write the meditations for the Pope’s upcoming Lenten retreat. Born on the island of Madeira in 1965, Fr Tolentino was ordained in 1990 and specialised in biblical studies. Although he has been assigned to help out at parishes, his main occupation has been academic, at the Catholic University of Portugal, where he is currently vice-rector. The theme for the meditations is, “In praise of thirst.” The individual reflections will cover subjects such as “The science of thirst”, “Drinking one’s own thirst”, “Listening to the thirst of the peripheries” and, “This thirst for nothing”. The retreat will take place from 18 to 23 February.