Pope Leo’s first Lent begins

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Senior Vatican Correspondent and Contributing Editor Ricardo da Silva, S.J., discuss the Vatican’s decision not to join President Trump’s Board of Peace, Pope Leo’s Lenten message, and the pope’s plans for the first Lent since his election last May.

0:00 Intro

0:35 Vatican declines Board of Peace invitation

5:06 Pope Leo’s Ash Wednesday plans

7:17 Pope Leo’s Lenten message

12:14 Inviting communities to listen during Lent

14:30 Pope Leo calls war a public health crisis

18:14 Pope Leo begins visiting Roman parishes

22:43 Altar girls serve at papal Mass

25:36 Recent appointments of women in Vatican offices

29:20 Pope Leo dissolves papal committee for World Children’s Day

32:11 Credits

Links:

Vatican will not join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, Cardinal Parolin says (americamagazine.org/news/2026/02/18/vatican-re…)

Pope Leo XIV explains why Catholics fast during Lent (americamagazine.org/news/2026/02/13/pope-leo-c…)

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