Pope Leo XIV has asked Christians to give up something very specific for Lent. In his message, he emphasized that it is not enough to fast from food; it is also necessary to “fast from words.”
In his annual address, delivered to tens of thousands of people on Ash Wednesday, the day that marked the beginning of Lent, the Pope proposed that the 40 days of preparation for Easter be lived as a time of reflection, finding space to place God once again at the center of life.
For this reason, he emphasized that people should refrain from using words that affect and hurt loved ones.
"Let us begin to disarm our language, giving up offensive words, quick judgment, speaking ill of those who are absent and cannot defend themselves, as well as slander," the Pope said.
According to him, fasting – both from food and from words – is a way to regulate our desires and to open up to others and their suffering. It is not just about physical sacrifice, but about an inner discipline that transforms the way we think and communicate.
For forty days, until Easter Sunday, Christian believers prepare through repentance, giving, fasting from certain foods (meat, dairy, wine, eggs, etc.), and giving up something of personal importance, in commemoration of the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the desert.
This year, the Pope suggests that sacrifice should not be limited to the table, but should begin with the tongue, where the deepest wounds often arise.
