In his Lenten message, Pope Leo XIV encourages us to listen to the Word and the cries of those who suffer as we journey towards Easter 2026. He proposes that we disarm language and banish hurtful words in order to build peace, and that we walk 'together' emphazising the communal aspect of this way towards Holy Week.
“Let us ask for the grace of a Lent that leads us to greater attentiveness to God and to the least among us” points out Pope Leo XIV in his message entitled “Listening and Fasting. Lent as a Time of Conversion”.
The Pope adds: “Let us strive to make our communities places where the cry of those who suffer finds welcome, and listening opens paths towards liberation, making us ready and eager to contribute to building a civilization of love.”
Listening
“In the midst of the many voices present in our personal lives and in society, Sacred Scripture helps us to recognize and respond to the cry of those who are anguished and suffering. In order to foster this inner openness to listening, we must allow God to teach us how to listen as he does.”
Desarming the language
“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.”
Walking together
“Our parishes, families, ecclesial groups and religious communities are called to undertake a shared journey during Lent, in which listening to the word of God, as well as to the cry of the poor and of the earth, becomes part of our community life, and fasting a foundation for sincere repentance. In this context, conversion refers not only to one’s conscience, but also to the quality of our relationships and dialogue. It means allowing ourselves to be challenged by reality and recognizing what truly guides our desires — both within our ecclesial communities and as regards humanity’s thirst for justice and reconciliation.”
You can access to the Message here 
Photo of the Pope taken from the video of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network for February 2026.
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