Skip to content

What Speaker Ryan Gave Up for Lent

This year, the Catholic Wisconsinite isn't giving up pop

Paul Ryan and Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., in the House chamber before Pope Francis addressed a  joint meeting of Congress in September. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Paul Ryan and Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., in the House chamber before Pope Francis addressed a  joint meeting of Congress in September. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

With the season of Lent coming to a close on Sunday, Speaker Paul D. Ryan, a Catholic, decided to share what he gave up this year.  

“I gave up impatience and anxiety this year,” he said in  a video . He noted that usually he gives up beer, ice cream or “pop,” showing off his Wisconsin roots.  

While he admitted to having ice cream and beer every now and then, he said that usually when he gives up something, he doesn’t pick it back up after Easter.  

In switching his Lenten vows, he said impatience and anxiety could be “character deficiencies” or “problems” for him.  

And last year, he said he gave up fear and managed to pass the budget “happily and joyfully.”  


Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone.

Recent Stories

Deadly Texas flooding puts Trump’s past talk of eliminating FEMA to the test

Senate NDAA would hike defense spending by $32 billion

Should we talk about the weather? — Congressional Hits and Misses

Photos of the week | July 4-10, 2025

Appropriators advance Legislative Branch bill without GAO cuts

FBI headquarters fight stymies spending bill in Senate