Lent 2026 Begins with Focus on Faith and Speech

Lent 2026 Begins with Focus on Faith and Speech

Christians around the world have begun the solemn season of Lent, a sacred period of prayer, fasting, and reflection that leads to Easter Sunday.
The season opens with Ash Wednesday and spans 40 days. It is a time when believers pause, examine their lives, and renew their faith. Many commit to prayer, self-denial, and acts of charity as they prepare to mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In his 2026 Lenten message published by the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV called on Christians to embrace a simple but powerful form of fasting. He urged believers to refrain from words that hurt others.
The Pontiff described careful speech as a practical and often ignored act of self discipline. According to him, Lent is not only about giving up food. It is also about giving up habits that damage relationships and weaken communities.

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He stressed that true conversion begins when people allow the word of God to shape their hearts. Listening, he noted, remains central to spiritual growth. In a world filled with noise and anger, he encouraged Christians to pay attention to the pain of others and respond with compassion.
Fasting, he explained, helps believers understand what truly matters. It creates space for justice, humility and deeper awareness of personal desires. However, he warned that spiritual practices must be guided by sincerity and not pride.
The Pope also encouraged families, churches and workplaces to become spaces of kindness and respect. He noted that when people choose their words carefully, tension reduces and peace grows.
As Lent 2026 begins, the message is clear. Faith must be visible not only in prayer and sacrifice but also in everyday conversations.

 

 

 

 

 

Content Credit: Boluwatife Abiola

Image Credit: Google. Com