10 Lenten Invitations from Pope Leo XIV

10 tips to spend Lent meaningfully from Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 Lenten message, focusing especially on conversion, listening, fasting, and communal renewal:

Place God back at the center of your life

“Lent is a time in which the Church… invites us to place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives, in order to find renewal in our faith and keep our hearts from being consumed by the anxieties and distractions of daily life.”

Let the Word Touch Your Heart

“Every path towards conversion begins by allowing the word of God to touch our hearts and welcoming it with a docile spirit.”

Listen for the Lord’s Voice

“The Lenten journey is a welcome opportunity to heed the voice of the Lord and renew our commitment to following Christ, accompanying him on the road to Jerusalem.”

Choose to Truly Listen

“Listening… is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into relationship with someone.”

Fast to Prepare Your Heart

“Fasting is a concrete way to prepare ourselves to receive the word of God.”

Examine What You Truly Hunger For

“Fasting makes it easier to recognize what we ‘hunger’ for and what we deem necessary for our sustenance.”

Direct Your Desires Toward God

“Fasting not only permits us to govern our desire… but also to expand it, so that it is directed towards God and doing good.”

Disarm Your Language

“Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgement… let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities.”

Convert the Way You Relate to Others

“Conversion refers not only to one’s conscience, but also to the quality of our relationships and dialogue.”

Make Space for the Cry of the Poor

“Let us strive to make our communities places where the cry of those who suffer finds welcome, and listening opens paths towards liberation, making us ready and eager to contribute to building a civilization of love.”