Ethiopian Cardinal’s Lenten Message: Modernist Naturalism Masquerading as Spirituality
The Vatican News portal reports a pastoral message from Cardinal Abune Berhaneyesus, CM, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia, for the 2026 Lenten season. The message urges “Catholics and all people of good will” toward “profound interior conversion through prayer, fasting, and works of charity,” citing Matthew 6:17-18. It notes the Ethiopian Catholic Church’s “dual rites” (Ge’ez and Latin) and references Pope Francis’ encyclical *Fratelli tutti*. The Cardinal calls for prayers for peace, justice, and leaders, concluding with invocations to “Our Lady, the angels, martyrs, and all saints.”
This message, emanating from a hierarchical structure that acknowledges the antipope “Pope Francis,” epitomizes the post-conciliar Church’s reduction of the sacred season of Lent to a generic, naturalistic call for personal betterment, systematically omitting the supernatural foundation, purpose, and means of true Catholic penance.




