Pope Leo XIV will spend the Sundays of Lent among parish communities across Rome, continuing a long-standing pastoral tradition of the Bishop of Rome personally encountering the faithful in their local churches.
According to Vatican News, the Holy Father will begin this Lenten pastoral focus by meeting with clergy of the Diocese of Rome on Thursday, February 19, the day after Ash Wednesday. The announcement was released by the Vicariate of Rome, which emphasized the pastoral nature of the Pope’s upcoming visits.
Beginning on the first Sunday of Lent and continuing each Sunday throughout the season, Pope Leo XIV will visit five parishes representing the five pastoral regions of the city. During each visit, the Pope will meet with parish groups, including pastoral workers and young people, before celebrating Mass with the wider parish community.
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“These will be true pastoral visits,” Cardinal Baldo Reina, Vicar General of Rome, said, according to Vatican News. He explained that the Holy Father intends to engage directly with the life of each parish, listening to those involved in ministry and accompanying the faithful during the penitential season.
The parishes scheduled for the Pope’s visits include Holy Mary Queen of Peace in Ostia Lido on February 15, followed by Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at Castro Pretorio on February 22. He will then visit Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ on March 1, Our Lady of the Presentation on March 8, and conclude the series at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at Ponte Mammolo on March 15.
Cardinal Reina noted that the Pope’s initiative reflects the example set by previous pontiffs. “The Holy Father begins his visits to the parishes of his diocese, following the footsteps of his predecessors,” he said, adding that the visits are “a source of great joy” and an opportunity for the Diocese of Rome to continue shaping its pastoral mission alongside its bishop, according to Vatican News.
By choosing to spend Lent in close contact with parish communities, Pope Leo XIV underscores the Church’s call to accompaniment, encounter, and shared conversion during one of the most important seasons of the liturgical year.
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