Opening the Vatican’s Lenten spiritual exercises, the Norwegian Cistercian bishop warned against weaponizing the Gospel in culture wars.
Norwegian Cistercian Bishop Erik Varden opened the Vatican’s annual Lenten spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia by urging Christians to resist using the Gospel as a political weapon and to measure authentic faith by fidelity to Christ — and by the peace believers embody.
“Fidelity to Christ’s example and commandments is the hallmark of Christian sincerity,” Varden said in his first meditation, delivered in the Pauline Chapel during the retreat for Pope Leo XIV and members of the Curia, which began Sunday afternoon.
“The extent of the peace we embody — that signal peace ‘which the world cannot give’ — indicates Jesus’ abiding presence in us,” he continued. “We must insist on this now, when the Gospel is sometimes deployed as a weapon in culture wars.”
Varden called on Christians to contest “instrumentalizations of Christian language and signs,” not merely with indignation but by teaching what real spiritual struggle looks like.
“Instrumentalizations of Christian language and signs should be challenged, not just by wan outrage but by teaching the terms of authentic spiritual warfare,” he said. “For Christian peace is not a promise of ease; it is a condition for transformed society.”
In the same meditation, Varden pointed to anger as a spiritual danger, citing St. John Climacus: “There is no greater obstacle to the presence of the Spirit in us than anger.”
He also reflected on the Church’s Lenten discipline as a “program” marked by clarity and peace: Lent “confronts us with essentials,” he said, stripping away distractions and inviting “an abstinence of the senses,” while still calling believers to battle vice and harmful passions with a straightforward “yes, yes,” and “no, no.”
Varden noted the Church’s liturgy sets that tone from the outset of Lent, pointing to the traditional chant of Psalm 90 (91), “Qui Habitat,” sung on the first Sunday of Lent as the Gospel recounts Christ’s temptation in the wilderness.
Later Monday, Varden was scheduled to deliver two additional meditations, including reflections on St. Bernard of Clairvaux and on God’s help.
This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
