Trappist Bishop Erik Varden to Lead Lenten Spiritual Exercises for Pope Leo XIV
Bishop Erik Varden, the Trappist Bishop of Trondheim, has been selected to preach the 2026 Lenten Spiritual Exercises for Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia. The retreat, themed "Illuminated by a Hidden Glory," will take place from February 22 to 27 in the Pauline Chapel.
Schedule and Theme
The exercises begin on Sunday, February 22, at 5:00 p.m. Following the opening, the daily schedule from Monday through Friday includes:
9:00 a.m. – Mid-Morning Prayer followed by the first meditation.
5:00 p.m. – Second meditation followed by Eucharistic Adoration and Vespers.
The meditations will explore a range of spiritual topics, including the splendor of truth, divine assistance, and "communicating hope." A significant portion of the retreat will focus on Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, examining him as both an "idealist" and a "realist."
About Bishop Erik Varden
Bishop Varden is a prominent figure in the Scandinavian Church and a scholar of Eastern ecclesiastical sciences.
| Milestone | Detail |
| Background | Born in Norway (1974); educated at Cambridge and the Pontifical Oriental Institute. |
| Monastic Life | Entered the Trappists (Cistercians of the Strict Observance) in 2002; served as Abbot of Mount St. Bernard. |
| Episcopacy | Appointed Bishop of Trondheim in 2019; currently President of the Scandinavian Bishops’ Conference. |
| Curial Role | Appointed by Pope Leo XIV to the Dicastery for the Clergy in 2025. |
Varden’s diverse background—spanning from the silence of the monastery to the academic halls of Rome and his work with Vatican Radio—brings a unique perspective to this year’s Lenten reflections.
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