Pope Leo XIV and the leaders of the Roman Curia concluded their Lenten spiritual retreat, which began last Sunday, at the end of the day on February 27, 2026. During these six days, the public activities of the Pope and his close collaborators were suspended. In his closing remarks, the Pope shared some elements that had particularly moved him in the meditations of the Norwegian Trappist monk, Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim.
Alongside the prelates of the Curia in the Pauline Chapel, the Pope attended a sermon by Archbishop Varden each morning and afternoon, before concluding the day with Eucharistic adoration and the prayer of Vespers.
"I must admit that I personally found myself particularly invited to reflect at certain moments," the Pope said, and then added humorously: "For example, this morning, when he spoke about the election of Pope Eugene III and St. Bernard said: 'What have you done? May God have mercy on you.'"
The 267th Pope also recalled his memories of this chapel located near the Sistine Chapel, where, on May 8th—before his election—the cardinals of the conclave celebrated Mass. He highlighted the inscription from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Leo XIV also cited the reference to Cardinal John Henry Newman and his poem “The Dream of Gerontius,” in which the man he proclaimed a Doctor of the Church leads the reader “to contemplate his own fear of death and his own sense of unworthiness before God.” The Pope left his collaborators with the invitation of the Apostle Paul: “Live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
The sixth meditation, on February 25, was particularly noteworthy: Bishop Varden addressed the "corruption" within the Catholic Church, especially the abuses committed within its ranks. "The Church's most terrible crisis was not caused by opposition from the world, but by ecclesiastical corruption," the monk asserted. He then called for "tears," "justice," and a re-examination of "errors of discernment" and patterns of "deviation."
The prefects of the dicasteries also suspended their work this week. “Our prefect only comes in once a day to briefly handle urgent matters that require his signature,” an employee told I.MEDIA.
Starting next week, still within the context of Lent, all officials of the tiny state will be able to attend a meditation every Friday morning, preached by the Preacher of the Papal Household, the Capuchin priest Roberto Pasolini.
Leo XIV has resumed his official audiences this Saturday. Tomorrow, he will recite the Angelus in public at noon in St. Peter's Square, as he does every Sunday.
For those who would like a taste of the Pope's retreat, Bishop Varden has several books in English. Read about them here:
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Here is a working translation of the Pope's words:
Before concluding this week of spiritual exercises and retreat – a moment of blessing – I am pleased to be able to say thank you above all to our preacher who has accompanied us and helped us during these days to live a profound, spiritual experience that is very important in our Lenten journey, beginning on Sunday with 'The Temptations' and reflecting on the example and witness of St Bernard, monastic life and many other elements in the life of the Church.
I must admit that I personally found myself particularly invited to reflect at certain moments. For example, this morning, when he spoke about the election of Pope Eugene III and St Bernard said: "What have you done? May God have mercy on you."
Then this chapel – I'll tell you – on May 8, when we were gathered here for the Eucharistic celebration. Above it is the inscription from St Paul's Letter to the Philippians, which says these words: "For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain." So, in this context and in this spirit of communion, we are all gathered here working together, though sometimes very separately, and coming together in prayer is also, I think, a very important moment in our lives, reflecting on many issues that are important for our lives and for the Church.
I do not intend to review the entire week, but rather to share a few elements. For example, the reference to the Doctor of the Church John Henry Newman and the poem "The Dream of Gerontius," where Newman uses Gerontius' death and judgement as a prism through which the reader is led to contemplate his own fear of death and his own sense of unworthiness before God.
There are other elements such as freedom and truth, which are so important in our lives. And in all this, this evening, with my reflection on hope and on the true source of hope, which is Christ, I returned to reread the Letter to the Philippians. In the continuation of the text, written above, where Paul says: 'If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, yet I cannot say which I will choose. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better, but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that, by my presence again with you, your boast might abound in Christ Jesus because of me." And then he says, "Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."
Here it is: this is the invitation at the end of these days of prayer and reflection, which the very Word of God addresses to all of us: "Behave in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ."
On behalf of all those present, then, I thank you, Bishop Varden, for all that you have offered us during these days. Your wisdom, your testimony and that of the monastic life of St Bernard, and the richness of your reflections will continue to be a source of blessing for us, of grace and of encounter with Jesus Christ for a long time to come.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the Office of Liturgical Celebrations who prepared all the material for our prayer, as well as the choir, which I believe is still here. Thank you for helping us with the music, which is so important in our prayer. Music – I believe Bishop Varden said this at some point – helps us in a way that words cannot, lifting our spirits to the Lord.
So thank you, thank you all very much for your presence and participation during these days.
We can conclude with the blessing.
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Have a good evening and thank you all.
