By Charles Igwe
Pope Leo XIV and members of the Roman Curia are set to begin Lent with a weeklong spiritual retreat in a monastic style. The retreat will take place from February 22 to February 27 in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, where participants will engage in prayer, meditation, and spiritual reflection.
The exercises will be led by Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, a Trappist monk known for his theological writings and deep spiritual insight. He will offer two meditations each day, one in the morning and another in the late afternoon, focusing on themes such as the figure of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, as well as reflections on hope, truth, and the angels of God.
The retreat will begin on the evening of February 22 and continue with daily prayer, Eucharistic adoration, and meditative reflections through February 27. This annual Lenten retreat brings together the pope, cardinals residing in Rome, and heads of Vatican dicasteries in a period of prayerful preparation for the penitential season of Lent.
