Vatican City, February 23, 2026: Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim delivered his second meditation at the 2026 Spiritual Exercises in the Vatican, offering a reflection on “Bernard, the Idealist” to Pope Leo XIV, Cardinals residing in Rome, and heads of Dicasteries.

Preaching during the annual Lenten retreat of the Roman Curia, Bishop Varden presented St. Bernard of Clairvaux as a towering yet complex figure of the twelfth-century Cistercian reform. While often credited with founding the Cistercian Order, Bernard in fact joined Cîteaux in 1113 at the age of 23, bringing with him thirty companions. His charisma and leadership, however, greatly shaped the movement’s growth and influence.

Bishop Varden described the early Cistercian project as both conservative and innovative — a creative balance that proved fruitful. Bernard himself embodied tension: deeply confident in judgment yet capable of humility; firm in conviction yet tender in charity.

Far from being a rigid ideologue, Bernard was portrayed as a man shaped by personal struggle and conversion. His teaching on spiritual renewal, rooted in Scripture and theology, was also born of lived experience — learning through wounds, challenges, and reflection on God’s merciful justice.

Bishop Varden noted that Bernard’s life offers guidance for the Lenten journey, particularly for those seeking authenticity and freedom from selfishness and pride. He described the saint as a “wise companion” for anyone undertaking a spiritual exodus toward the transforming love of God.

The 2026 Spiritual Exercises for the Roman Curia are being held from February 22 to 27 at the Vatican.