VATICAN CITY — In his 2026 Lenten message, Pope Leo XIV has called on Catholics to embrace a “practical and frequently unappreciated” form of abstinence: refraining from harsh, hurtful, and judgmental words.
As Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18, the Pope urged the faithful to place God back at the center of their lives through listening, fasting, and community.
“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,” he said.
A Season of Listening and Conversion
Pope Leo XIV described Lent as a journey of conversion that begins with allowing God’s Word to touch the heart.
In a world filled with noise and competing voices, Sacred Scripture, he said, helps Christians recognize and respond to the cry of the anguished and suffering.
He invited believers to cultivate inner openness by:
- Listening to God through prayer and Scripture
- Being attentive to the needs of the poor
- Entering into authentic relationships
The Pope emphasized that the poor challenge not only individuals but also economic systems and even the Church itself.
Fasting That Orders Our Desires
Turning to fasting, Pope Leo explained that it is not merely a physical act, but a spiritual discipline that reveals what we truly hunger for.
“Precisely because it involves the body, fasting makes it easier to recognize what we ‘hunger’ for and what we deem necessary for our sustenance,” he said.
True fasting, he added, frees believers from complacency, purifies desire, and directs it toward justice, God, and good works.
However, he cautioned that fasting must be practiced in humility and communion with the Lord, not as a source of pride.
An “Under-Appreciated” Form of Abstinence
At the heart of his message, the Pope highlighted abstinence from harmful speech as a vital Lenten practice.
He encouraged Catholics to measure their words in:
- Families
- Workplaces
- Social media
- Political debates
- Media
- Christian communities
By doing so, he said, words of hatred can give way to “words of hope and peace.”
A Communal Journey
Pope Leo XIV also stressed the communal dimension of Lent. Listening and fasting are not isolated acts, but practices that strengthen parishes, families, and religious communities.
By allowing themselves to be challenged by reality and by the cry of the poor, Christians can form their consciences and deepen their commitment to justice and reconciliation.
He concluded by urging Christian communities to become places of welcome for those who suffer.
“Let us ask for the strength that comes from the type of fasting that also extends to our use of language,” he said, “so that hurtful words may diminish and give way to a greater space for the voice of others.”