Pope Leo XIV Urges Catholics to Fast from Harsh Words in 2026 Lenten Message
Ahead of Ash Wednesday on February 18, Pope Leo XIV has released his message for Lent 2026, calling Catholics to rediscover the heart of conversion through listening, fasting and renewed community life. At the center of his reflection is a practical and often overlooked form of abstinence: refraining from harsh words and rash judgment.
The Pope describes Lent as a season that invites Christians to place the mystery of God back at the center of daily life. Every journey of conversion, he explains, begins by allowing the Word of God to touch the heart. From there flows a renewed commitment to follow Christ in the mystery of His passion, death and resurrection.
A key theme of the message is listening. In a world marked by constant noise and competing voices, Pope Leo urges believers to cultivate inner openness to God and to others. Sacred Scripture, he notes, teaches Christians to recognize the cry of those who suffer. Listening requires humility and attentiveness, especially toward the poor, whose lives challenge social structures, economic systems and even the Church itself.
Fasting, the Pope continues, is not merely a physical discipline but a path toward deeper justice. By engaging the body, fasting reveals what people truly hunger for and what they consider necessary for sustenance. It helps identify and order desires, keeping alive a thirst for righteousness. When practiced in faith and humility, fasting purifies and frees the heart, directing it toward God and concrete acts of charity.
However, Pope Leo warns against forms of self denial that foster pride. Authentic fasting must be lived in communion with the Lord and within the community of the Church. He also points to other forms of sacrifice that encourage a simpler and more sober way of life.
In a striking passage, the Pope invites Catholics to fast from words that offend and wound others. He calls on believers to disarm their language by avoiding slander, harsh criticism and judgments directed at those who cannot defend themselves. This appeal extends to family life, friendships, workplaces, social media and public debate.
By moderating speech and cultivating kindness and respect, Christians can create space for hope and peace. The Pope emphasizes that words carry moral weight and shape relationships. When language is purified, communities become places where dialogue replaces hostility and reconciliation becomes possible.
The communal dimension of Lent also stands out in the message. Listening and fasting are not private exercises alone but are meant to be lived in parishes, families and religious communities. Through shared conversion, consciences are formed and relationships strengthened.
Pope Leo concludes by asking that Christian communities become welcoming spaces for those who suffer. He encourages believers to seek the strength that comes from disciplined speech, so that hurtful words diminish and the voices of others may be heard more clearly. In this way, Lent becomes a time not only of personal renewal but of healing for the wider community.
