From the desk of the Tar Heel disciple:
February 23, 2026 (#77)
From the Holy Father for Lent 2026
At the beginning of February 2026, the Holy See released a “message for Lent,” addressed to “Dear brothers and sisters,” from the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. Though brief, only about 1,100 words, many might well find it to provide worthy spiritual reading for Lent. Its directness might be the result of the first American pope’s native culture. It also is also reflection of his Augustinian formation. In 2 1/2 pages (with only four footnotes!), it provides a helpful guide to the season of spiritual preparation that Lent is meant to be, when the Church invites us “to place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives.”
The Pope begins by inviting us all to “listen” by refocusing our attention on the Word of God, whose initiative in this process was made clear when he informed Moses that he heard the cry of his people. In this manner, then come to better know the heart of God, who hears “the cry of those who are anguished and suffering.” The goal in this initial step of formation is to “allow God to teach us how to listen as he does.”
The second focus of this meditation is fasting, which is described as “a concrete way to prepare ourselves to receive the word of God.” Pope Leo notes that fasting frees us from our complacency and better equips us to respond to the needs of those who suffer in our midst. He then makes explicit reference to Saint Augustine’s understanding of the role of desire for justice in the spiritual life, which “expands the soul and increases its capacity.”
Finally, the Holy Father focuses on a particular form of abstinence, particularly needed in our day: “Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgement, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves. Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities. In this way, words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace.”
The full text (in English) of the Holy Father’s Message for Lent 2026 can be found at the Vatican’s website:
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/lent/documents/20260205-messaggio-quaresima.html
