Pope thanks Bishop Varden for retreat, highlights references to Saints Bernard, Newman

February 28, 2026

At the conclusion of the February 22-27 retreat to the Roman Curia, Pope Leo XIV thanked Bishop Erik Varden, OCSO, who preached the retreat conferences.

Pope Leo highlighted Bishop Varden’s references to De consideratione, a work by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), and “The Dream of Gerontius,” a poem by St. John Henry Newman (1801-1890). The Pope said that Bishop Varden’s reference to a text from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians led him to reread the letter.

Referring to a verse from the letter, the Pope said:

This is the invitation at the end of these days of prayer and reflection, which the Word of God itself addresses to all of us: “Conduct yourselves, therefore, in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.”

The Pontiff also thanked the Office of Liturgical Celebrations for assisting with the music, “which is also so important in our prayer.”

 

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Further information:

• Conclusion of the Spiritual Exercises for the Roman Curia (Dicastery for Communication - Vatican Media, 2/27/26)