Bishop Erik Varden closed a weeklong retreat for the Roman Curia with meditations on the cross and hope.
Pope Leo XIV closed the Vatican’s weeklong Lenten spiritual exercises Friday by thanking retreat preacher Bishop Erik Varden and urging those gathered to live out St. Paul’s exhortation to “behave in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.”
Speaking at the conclusion of the retreat in the Pauline Chapel on Feb. 27, the Pope said Bishop Varden’s preaching helped the Pope and members of the Roman Curia live “a profound, spiritual” experience at the beginning of Lent, starting Sunday with reflections on “the temptations” and moving through themes including St. Bernard and monastic life.
Leo said he found himself “particularly invited to reflect” at certain moments, including Bishop Varden’s recounting of St. Bernard’s reaction to the election of Pope Eugene III: “What have you done? May God have mercy on you.”
The Pope also recalled celebrating Mass in the same chapel last May 8 — the day of his election as pope — pointing to an inscription from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, “For to me life is Christ and death is gain,” and he said that gathering for
