VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV presided over a special Mass for the “Care of Creation” in the Vatican gardens on Wednesday, calling for urgent global action on climate change and renewed attention to the needs of the poor.
The service, inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, included prayers and readings focused on the moral and spiritual dimensions of ecological responsibility. Pope Leo XIV urged the international community to hear “the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth,” framing environmental protection as an act of social justice and faith.
“This Mass is a reminder that caring for our common home is not an option but a duty rooted in our faith,” the Pope said during his homily.
Pope Leo XIV has continued his predecessor’s ecological initiatives, pressing governments and individuals to adopt more sustainable practices.
The Vatican has also advanced its own environmental agenda, including energy efficiency projects and zero-emission goals within the Holy See.
The Pope concluded the ceremony by urging unity in response to environmental challenges, stating, “Let us walk together—nations, communities, and people of faith—to protect our planet and care for one another.”
The Mass and its new liturgical elements are expected to be adopted in dioceses around the world, further embedding ecological awareness into Catholic worship and global Church policy.