Pope Leo XIV will preside over the inaugural “Mass for the Care of Creation” at the Papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, marking a significant addition to the Roman Missal.
Newsroom (04 July 2025, Gaudium Press )On July 9, Pope Leo XIV will preside over the inaugural “Mass for the Care of Creation” at the Papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, marking a significant addition to the Roman Missal. The new liturgical formulary, crafted by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, was unveiled during a press conference at the Vatican on Thursday. The private Mass will be celebrated with staff from the “Borgo Laudato Sì” educational center, aligning with the Church’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.
A Liturgical Call to Ecological Responsibility
Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, described the formulary as a vital tool for the Church’s mission to care for “our common home.” He emphasized that the Mass embodies “a great act of faith, hope, and charity,” encouraging Catholics to integrate environmental care into their spiritual and communal lives. “This Mass calls us to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us—not only in daily choices and public policies but also in our prayer, worship, and way of living,” Czerny stated.
The formulary, approved by Pope Leo XIV via a decree dated June 8, joins 49 other Masses for various needs in the Roman Missal, specifically under the category of civil needs. Drawing heavily from Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, the text also commemorates the 35th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s 1990 World Day of Peace message, “Peace with God the Creator, Peace with all of Creation.”
Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, underscored the formulary’s role in promoting an “integral ecology.” He described Laudato Si’ as an “eco-social” text, cautioning against superficial interpretations of ecology that overlook human dignity. “The prayers in this Mass are a good antidote to a false or superficial ecology,” Viola said, noting that the formulary translates the encyclical’s theological insights into liturgical expression.
Gratitude and Solidarity in Worship
The Mass emphasizes the intrinsic connection between creation and the Eucharist, which Cardinal Czerny noted “joins heaven and earth, embracing all creation.” By blessing God for the gifts of bread and wine, the liturgy fosters gratitude and calls for a loving response to contemporary environmental challenges. Quoting Pope Leo XIV’s message for the 2025 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Czerny highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change, deforestation, and pollution, which disproportionately affect the vulnerable. “The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are one,” he said, echoing Laudato Si’ and warning against solutions that prioritize ecological fixes at the expense of human well-being.
Scriptural and Liturgical Content
The formulary incorporates carefully selected readings to reflect its ecological and spiritual themes. From the Old Testament, the Book of Wisdom (13:1-9) invites contemplation of God through His creation. Psalms 18 and 103 proclaim the glory of God’s works, while St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians (1:15-20) affirms Christ as the “firstborn of all creation.” Two Gospel passages from Matthew—6:24-34, which reflects on God’s care for nature, and 8:23-27, depicting Jesus calming the storm—further ground the liturgy in Scripture. The prayers, including a call to “live in harmony with all creatures” while awaiting “new heavens and a new earth,” reinforce the theme of stewardship.
Clarifications on Traditionis Custodes
During the press conference, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, addressed questions about recent articles concerning Pope Francis’ 2021 Motu Proprio, Traditionis Custodes. Bruni clarified that these reports offered a “partial and incomplete reconstruction” of ongoing consultations. He noted that additional documentation and confidential reports, resulting from further consultations, have been submitted to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, underscoring the complexity of the issue.
The introduction of the “Mass for the Care of Creation” signals the Vatican’s continued commitment to weaving ecological awareness into the fabric of Catholic worship, urging the faithful to respond to the “cry of the earth” with prayer, action, and solidarity.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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