Pope Leo XIV invites Christians to put the mystery of God back at the center of their lives.
This February 18, 2026 (Ash Wednesday) marks the beginning of Lent for Christians of the Catholic Church. In a message for Lent, Pope Leo XIV calls on the faithful to make this liturgical season a true path of conversion, centered on listening and fasting. Putting God back at the heart of existence implies welcoming His Word with docility: it is by allowing oneself to be reached by it that the believer can see their heart transformed and rediscover the momentum of faith. Like the Lord who, in Exodus, hears the cry of his oppressed people, Christians are invited to learn authentic listening, capable of discerning, amidst the noise of the world, the voice of those suffering from injustice and poverty.
Fasting, an ancestral practice of the Church, appears as a concrete exercise to order desires and revive the hunger for justice. By involving the body, it helps to purify appetites and orient them towards God and the common good. But it cannot be lived without humility or being rooted in the Word. The Pope also proposes a demanding fast: that of hurtful words, hasty judgments, and slander, in order to promote a language of peace. Finally, he emphasizes the communal dimension of Lent: parishes, families, and communities are called to walk together toward a conversion that transforms relationships, lifestyles, and commitment to a more just and fraternal society.
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