The Pope began the Lenten spiritual exercises on February 22; a week during which Pope Leo will, in principle, have no other events on his agenda. And neither will any of the senior Vatican officials, such as the secretaries, cardinals, or prefects of the different dicasteries.
In the Pauline Chapel, close to the Sistine Chapel, the bestselling Norwegian monk, Bishop Erik Varden, began his series of meditations based on two notions: the idealist and the realist. He explained how these two notions play out through truth, freedom, and hope.
For this first meditation, Varden fittingly focused on what Lent entails—that is, a face-to-face encounter with that which is essential, setting aside everything that might distract us.
The bishop also explained the Christian meaning of peace—not the absence of problems, but rather security in God in the midst of them and the strength to face them.
The instrumentation of Christian language and symbols must be questioned, not only with superficial indignation, but by teaching the terms of authentic spiritual warfare. For Christian peace is not a promise of tranquility; it is a condition for a transformed society.
For this program of meditations, the Norwegian bishop sought inspiration from Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church and Cistercian monk, the order that Varden also belongs tp. which stood out in the 12th century for uniting two paths: the contemplative life of a monk and the active involvement in ecclesiastical politics.
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Trans. CRT
