Prayer not 'an option' for Christians, says Pope

Vatican City, March 4: Prayer is not ''an optional'' or anaccessory for Christians but an essential part of the life of thefaithful, Pope Benedict today said.

At the same time, he told pilgrims and tourists in St Peter'sSquare for his weekly Sunday address, prayer could not be a means ofescaping the sometimes harsh reality of the world.

''Dear brothers and sisters, prayer is not an accessory, an optional, but it is a question of life and death,'' he said.

''Only those who pray, in fact, only those who entrust themselvesto God with the love of a child, can enter eternal life ...''.

But as important as prayer is to Christians, it could not be used as a form of escape from problems.

''For a Christian, praying does not mean evading escaping realityand its responsibilities but facing them fully, confiding in thefaithful and inexhaustable love of the Lord,'' he said.

The Pope's address marked the end of a week-long Lenten spiritualretreat inside the Vatican, during which he prayed with aides and madeno public appearances.

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