Pope Leo XIV concludes his Lenten retreat in the Vatican with the Roman Curia and Cardinals in Rome inviting the faithful to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel.
Vatican News
At the conclusion of a week of Spiritual Exercises in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV on Friday offered words of gratitude and reflection, drawing together the themes that marked the Lenten retreat preached by Bishop Erik Varden.
He described the days as “a profound spiritual experience,” one that accompanied the Roman Curia along its Lenten path, beginning with meditation on “the Temptations” and unfolding through reflections on monastic life and the witness of Bernard of Clairvaux.
A moment that invites reflection
Referring to moments that have touched him deeply, Pope Leo recalled a meditation on the election of Pope Eugene III, and cited Saint Bernard’s words: “What have you done? May God have mercy on you.”
He then pointed to the chapel itself, recalling 8 May, when he and his brother cardinals were gathered there for the Eucharistic celebration. Above them is inscribed the verse from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
“In this context and with this spirit of communion,” he said, “all of us gathered together work side by side, though often very separately.” To meet in prayer, he added, is “a very important moment in our life,” a time to reflect on questions vital for personal life and for the Church.
Newman, freedom, hope
Among the themes chosen by Bishop Varden during the week, the Pope highlighted the reference to the Doctor of the Church, St John Henry Newman, and his poem The Dream of Gerontius. In that work, he noted, Newman presents death and judgment “as a prism” through which the reader confronts fear and unworthiness before God.
Freedom and truth, he added, also stood out as essential dimensions of Christian life that were touched upon during the reflections.
Returning to Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, the Pope read the Apostle’s words about being “hard pressed” between the desire to depart and be with Christ and the call to remain for the sake of others’ “progress and joy in the faith.”
He highlighted Paul’s exhortation: “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.”
“This,” the Pope said, “is the invitation at the end of these days of prayer and reflection, which the very Word of God addresses to all of us.”
Gratitude and the gift of music
On behalf of those present, Pope Leo XIV thanked Bishop Varden for his preaching, describing his reflections, wisdom, and testimony, together with that of Saint Bernard’s monastic life, as a lasting source of blessing and grace.
He also expressed appreciation to the Office for Liturgical Celebrations and to the choir.
“Music,” he observed, “is so important in our prayer… It helps us in a way that words cannot, raising our spirit to the Lord.”
