Vatican City - Pope
Leo XIV and the Roman Curia are
continuing their Lenten journey, immersing themselves in the third day of their
Spiritual Exercises. This morning, 24 February 2026, the Pauline Chapel was
attended by the Holy Father, the Cardinals, and the Heads of the Dicasteries of the Roman
Curia for the fourth meditation in the series preached by Bishop Erik Varden, a
Trappist monk and bishop, on the general theme "Illuminated by a Hidden
Glory."
Following
the prayer of the Middle Hour at 9:00 a.m., attention turned to the meditation
entitled "Becoming Free." It was a moment of profound reflection that
touched upon one of the raw nerves of our time: the authentic meaning of freedom.
The rhetoric of freedom and the christian challenge
Bishop
Varden began his reflection with a remarkably lucid analysis of today's
cultural context, where the concept of freedom has become a "highly
effective rhetorical tool," often used to divide rather than to unite. The
preacher highlighted how, in public debate and especially online, any perceived
limitation of freedom unleashes "indignant reactions" or even street
protests.
However,
this inflation of the term conceals a trap: "What one segment of society
perceives as 'liberating' is considered oppressive by others." Thus,
opposing fronts are created, armed with incompatible definitions of liberation.
This fragmentation presents a direct challenge to believers, who are called to
clarify what it means, in the context of faith, to become free.
The
illusion of fallen man
Drawing
on the wisdom of St Bernard, Varden unmasked the illusion of what we commonly
consider to be natural freedom: "to do it our way, to satisfy our desires
and realise our plans without interference." For the Trappist monk, this
is not freedom, but blindness.
With
sharp irony, St Bernard addresses the man convinced of his own autonomy,
asking: "What do you fancy yourself as, you smatterer?". Our tendency to
fall back into the same old mistakes and be deceived by the same traps is proof
that we are not truly free to pursue the good. "We are incapable of
progressing steadily towards the true goal of our life," remaining hostage
to distractions and obstacles.
A
crucified love
The
heart of the meditation proposed a radical reversal of perspective. Christian freedom is not self-assertion or violent conquest, but is rooted in the
"unconditional Yes! of the Son to the Father's will." Bishop Varden
offered those present a key passage, defining freedom not as a force that
subjugates, but as the capacity to love to the very end: "Christian
freedom consists not in conquering the world by force, but in loving it with a crucified love, so magnanimous as to make us want to give our life for it so that
it might, in Christ, be set free."
In
this vision, no political ideology or impersonal structure such as "the
Economy" or "History" can justify oppression in the name of
freedom. "The only meaningful
freedom is personal," the
preacher warned, reminding his listeners that one person's freedom can never
cancel out another's.
Silence
and resonance among the cardinals
At
the end of the meditation, the participants had a period of silence to cherish
the words they had heard and allow themselves to be challenged by these
insights. The atmosphere in the Pauline Chapel was described as one of intense
recollection. Several Cardinals expressed their keen appreciation for Bishop
Varden's style. His preaching was described by some as "brief yet
profound, monastic and incisive." The ability to combine disenchanted
cultural analysis with the depth of the Cistercian spiritual tradition seems to
have struck the right chord, offering not ready-made answers, but wholesome
provocations for personal prayer. The day will continue this afternoon. At 5
p.m., the Pope and the cardinals will gather again for a second meditation
entitled "The Splendour of Truth," followed by Eucharistic Adoration and the prayer of Vespers.
Fr.F.V.
Silere non possum