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Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby as he arrives to hold the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Feb. 18, 2026. (OSV News photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)

Home > News > CHURCH > Pope Leo XIV on Ash Wednesday: Ask the Lord for the gift of true conversion this Lent

Pope Leo XIV on Ash Wednesday: Ask the Lord for the gift of true conversion this Lent

February 18, 2026February 18, 2026

By Courtney Mares, OSV News ROME OSV News – On Ash Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Catholics to ask the Lord for "the gift of true conversion" at the start of the 40-day penitential season of Lent. Speaking to English-speaking pilgrims at his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square Feb. 18, the Pope encouraged…...

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