The liturgy, a new expression of the Church’s commitment to environmental stewardship, was marked by a profound call to conversion and gratitude, inspired by the legacy of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’.
Newsroom (09 July 2025, Gaudium Press ) In a serene outdoor setting surrounded by the natural beauty of Borgo Laudato si’ in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the inaugural Mass for the Care of Creation on July 9, 2025. The liturgy, a new expression of the Church’s commitment to environmental stewardship, was marked by a profound call to conversion and gratitude, inspired by the legacy of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’. The Holy Father’s homily wove together themes of ecological responsibility, faith, and hope, urging the faithful to heed the urgent call to care for our common home.
The Mass, held in what the Pope described as a “natural cathedral” of plants and elements of creation, opened with a reflection on the Eucharist as an act of thanksgiving. Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of various Vatican Dicasteries in crafting this new liturgical formula, which he said reflects the Church’s mission to nurture creation. He personally thanked those present at the Laudato si’ Village, a project inspired by Pope Francis, for their dedication to this mission, noting that their work embodies the spirit of the 2015 encyclical, now marking its 10th anniversary.
Drawing parallels to the early Church, the Pope referenced the symbolism of passing through water, as in baptism, to enter the sacred space of the Eucharist. He called for a collective conversion, both within and outside the Church, to recognize the urgency of caring for the planet. “So many natural disasters we still see in the world, almost daily, in so many places and countries, are in part caused by the excesses of human beings and their way of life,” he said, challenging the faithful to examine their own commitment to ecological conversion.
The homily centered on the Gospel account of Jesus calming the storm (Mt 8:27), a passage the Pope used to address the fears and crises facing humanity today, from climate change to armed conflicts. He highlighted the disciples’ awe at Jesus’ power over the elements, asking, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Jesus’ rebuke to the wind and the sea manifests his life-giving and saving power, which surpasses those forces before which creatures feel lost.” This question, he said, is answered in the Letter to the Colossians (Col 1:15-16), which proclaims Christ as the “image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” The Pope emphasized that this divine authority calls the Church to a prophetic mission of peace and reconciliation, listening to the cries of the earth and the poor.
Quoting Psalm 29, Pope Leo XIV spoke of the “voice of the Lord” that thunders over the waters, urging the Church to boldly oppose destructive powers and foster harmony with creation. He invoked St. Francis of Assisi’s vision of creation as “brother, sister, mother,” calling for a contemplative gaze to heal humanity’s broken relationship with God, neighbor, and the earth. The Borgo Laudato si’, he noted, serves as a “laboratory” for living out this harmony, offering new ways to protect the environment.
The Eucharist, the Pope concluded, elevates creation to its fullest expression, as God enters the material world to dwell within humanity. Quoting Pope Francis’ Laudato si’, he reflected on the Incarnation’s intimacy, where “the Lord, at the height of the mystery of the Incarnation, chose to reach our intimacy through a fragment of matter.” He closed with words from St. Augustine’s Confessions, envisioning a cosmic harmony where “your works praise you so that we may love you, and we love you so that your works may praise you.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from vatican.va
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