Pope Leo XIV Urges Christians to ‘Fast From Hurtful Words’ as Lent Begins

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

As Christians around the world prepare to observe the Lenten season, Pope Leo XIV has called for a different kind of sacrifice — one that goes beyond food and focuses on the way people speak to one another.

In his 2026 Lenten message released ahead of Ash Wednesday and published by the Vatican, the Pontiff urged believers to abstain from words that offend, wound, or humiliate others, describing it as a “very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence.”

“I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbour,” the Pope said.

A Season of Reflection and Conversion

Lent, the 40-day period marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, offers Christians an opportunity to refocus their lives on God, the Pope explained. 

He noted that true conversion begins when believers allow God’s word to touch their hearts and guide them toward renewed commitment to Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection.

According to him, listening plays a central role in spiritual growth — listening not only to God but also to others. He stressed that authentic relationships are built on attentiveness and compassion.

“In the midst of the many voices present in our personal lives and in society, Sacred Scripture helps us to recognise and respond to the cry of those who are anguished and suffering,” he said.

Fasting Beyond Food

While traditional fasting remains important, the Pope said it should not be limited to physical sacrifice. Instead, fasting should help believers rediscover their hunger for justice and free themselves from complacency.

“Precisely because it involves the body, fasting makes it easier to recognise what we ‘hunger’ for and what we deem necessary for our sustenance,” he explained.

However, he cautioned that fasting must be practiced with humility and faith, warning that it should never become a source of pride or self-righteousness.

‘Disarm Your Language’

Highlighting what he described as an often-overlooked form of fasting, the Pontiff urged Christians to “disarm” their speech.

He called on believers to avoid harsh words, rash judgment, gossip, slander, and speaking ill of others — especially those who are not present to defend themselves.

“Let us begin by disarming our language,” he said.

The Pope encouraged kindness and respect in everyday interactions — at home, at work, in churches, on social media, and even during political debates.

If practiced faithfully, he said, “words of hatred” would give way to “words of hope and peace.”

Building Communities of Compassion

Beyond personal discipline, the Pope emphasized the communal nature of Lent, urging families, parishes, and religious communities to become spaces of listening, welcome, and support — particularly for the poor and suffering.

He concluded with a prayer that Christian communities would find the strength to practice a deeper, more meaningful fast — one that creates space for others by choosing words that heal rather than harm.