Pope Leo XIV urges the faithful to use Lent as a time of renewal, allowing God to craft their lives into unique masterpieces of love and grace.
Newsroom (23/02/2026 Gaudium Press )At the Sunday Angelus on the first Sunday of Lent, Pope Leo XIV invited the faithful to embrace the Lenten season as a sacred opportunity for renewal — a time to cooperate with God and allow Him to cleanse, heal, and shape each life into a “unique masterpiece.” Addressing pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, the Pope reflected on the Gospel account of Christ’s temptation in the desert, drawing lessons about resilience, humility, and spiritual beauty.
“Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving,” the Pope said, “we can renew our cooperation with the Lord in crafting our lives as masterpieces of His love.”
A Journey Through the Desert
Recalling the forty days Jesus spent in the desert, the Pope described how Christ’s human hunger and confrontation with the devil mirrored the spiritual struggles faced by every believer. “By resisting evil,” he explained, “Jesus shows us that it is possible to overcome deception and temptation, and to rediscover the beauty of living in truth.”
The Holy Father urged Christians to view Lent as a luminous path — one that leads from the disorder of sin toward the fullness of love. The desert, he noted, is not a place of despair but of purification, where believers learn to discern the difference between fleeting satisfaction and lasting joy.
Resisting Empty Temptations
Pope Leo XIV warned against modern temptations that promise happiness but leave the heart empty: the pursuit of wealth, fame, and power. These false idols, he emphasized, remain poor substitutes for the joy offered by Christ. “Only through love,” he said, “can we find true happiness — the joy that satisfies and endures.”
Citing Saint Paul VI’s apostolic constitution Paenitemini, the Pope reminded the faithful that penance enriches rather than diminishes human dignity. “Far from impoverishing our humanity,” he said, “it purifies and strengthens it.” Lent, therefore, is not a season of loss, but of transformation — a movement from limitation to communion.
The Art of Silence and Mercy
Encouraging practical steps for living Lent more deeply, Pope Leo XIV suggested creating moments of silence by turning off devices and embracing stillness. “Let us meditate on the Word of God,” he said, “approach the Sacraments, and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.”
He also invited the faithful to practice mercy through attentive listening and acts of compassion — visiting the elderly, caring for the poor, and comforting the sick. “By giving up what is superfluous,” he added, “we can share what we save with those in need.” Quoting Saint Augustine, he described true prayer as rooted in humility, charity, and forgiveness — a spiritual offering that “reaches heaven and gives peace.”
The Pope concluded the Angelus reflection by entrusting the Lenten journey to the Virgin Mary, “our Mother who always assists her children in times of trial.”
A Renewed Appeal for Peace in Ukraine
After leading the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV turned his thoughts to the ongoing war in Ukraine, marking its fourth year. His tone turned grave as he described the conflict as “a wound inflicted upon the entire human family,” lamenting the immense destruction and suffering it has caused.
“Peace cannot be postponed,” the Pope declared. “It is an urgent necessity that must find a home in our hearts and be translated into responsible decisions.” He called for an immediate ceasefire, urging world leaders to silence weapons and strengthen dialogue.
He invited all people of goodwill to unite in prayer for the people of Ukraine and for victims of every conflict, expressing hope that “the long-awaited gift of peace may shine upon our days.”
Greetings and Blessings
Pope Leo XIV concluded by greeting pilgrims and groups from across the world, including religious communities, students, and young people. He offered special blessings to the Working Sisters of Jesus on the centenary of their institute’s founding, and to associations working to address rare diseases.
In his parting words, the Pope once more wished everyone “a happy Sunday and a fruitful Lenten journey,” reminding the Church that Lent is not a burden to endure, but a divine invitation to beauty — an invitation to let each life, shaped by grace and mercy, become a masterpiece before God.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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