Bishop Varden preaches to Pope, Curia on ‘becoming free,’ ‘splendor of truth’
February 25, 2026
Bishop Erik Varden, OCSO, of Trondheim, Norway, reflected on “Becoming Free” and “The Splendor of Truth” in his February 24 Lenten retreat conferences to the Pope and the Roman Curia.
Bishop Varden has been publishing the retreat conferences in English and Italian on his website, Coram Fratribus Intellexi (In the presence of brothers, I have understood):
- Entering Lent (February 22)
- Bernard the idealist (February 23)
- God’s help (February 23)
- Becoming free (February 24)
- Splendor of truth (February 24)
The Pontiff and members of the Roman Curia began their Lenten retreat in the Apostolic Palace on the evening of February 22. The retreat, whose overarching theme is “Enlightened by a Hidden Glory,” concludes on February 27.
Bishop Varden, a Trappist, is the president of the Scandinavian Bishops’ Conference and the author of books published by Bloomsbury, Ignatius Press, and Word on Fire. A contributor to First Things and The Pillar, Bishop Varden was interviewed on the Catholic Culture Podcast in 2024.
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