In a quiet yet powerful liturgy surrounded by the natural beauty of Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV celebrated a private Mass at the Borgo Laudato Si’, on July 9, inaugurating the Church’s new liturgical formulary “For the Care of Creation.”
The celebration took place in the gardens of the Pontifical Villas, where the Pope stood before water and greenery he described as a “cathedral of nature.”
This Mass marked a new chapter in the Church’s deepening ecological mission, ten years after the publication of Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis.
“We prayed for conversion, our own, yes, but also for those inside and outside the Church who still do not recognize the urgency of caring for our common home,” the Pope said in his homily.
He warned that the rise in natural disasters is not disconnected from the “excesses of human lifestyles” and called for an “ecological conversion” rooted in faith, not fear.
Reflecting on the Gospel account of Jesus calming the storm (Mt 8:27), the Pope compared today’s environmental and geopolitical upheavals to the sea that terrified the disciples. He drew attention to the Greek word seismos, used in the Gospel to describe both a storm and an earthquake, to show that Christ remains present even in the shaking of our world.
“Jesus calms the storm. His power does not destroy, but builds up… What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?” the Pope quoted.
He cited St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, affirming Christ as the center of creation and the head of the Church. Thus, Pope Leo reminded the faithful that care for creation is not optional, it is Christ’s mission, entrusted to us.
“Our indignation is His indignation. Our work is His work,” he declared.
Echoing Psalm 29, “The voice of the Lord is upon the waters”, the Pope called on the Church to speak prophetically in defense of creation, even when it means challenging the “princes of this world.”
Praising Borgo Laudato Si’ as a “living laboratory” envisioned by Pope Francis, Pope Leo encouraged its mission to develop real solutions for ecological education and sustainability. He assured those working there of his prayers and support.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
