Pope Leo XIV opened the Catholic Church's five-week Season of Creation yesterday, telling worshippers "It is not yet too late" to repair humanity's relationship with the environment. He celebrated Mass at the Borgo Laudato Si' ecology village in the papal gardens at Castel Gandolfo, marking the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
In his homily, Leo urged the faithful to step back from daily "noise" to "hear the melodious voice of creation" and recognise their responsibility for protecting it. He added that awareness of human failure should renew commitment to "restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator."
This year's theme links armed conflict with environmental destruction. Leo said instruments of destruction could be "redirected toward life... the care of the poor, the nourishment of the hungry, and the safeguarding of creation."
The Borgo Laudato Si' village was founded by Pope Francis, whose 2015 encyclical Laudato Si' drew inspiration from St Francis of Assisi.
The Season of Creation concludes on 4 October, the feast marks the 800th anniversary of St Francis's death recalling his Canticle of the Creatures, which praises God through sun, moon, wind and water.