Pope Leo XIV Celebrates First Green Mass for Creation Care

Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first 'green' papal Mass at the Vatican's ecological educational center in Castel Gandolfo, marking a significant step in his commitment to environmental stewardship and climate justice. This Mass, using a new formula dedicated to the care of creation, continues the ecological legacy of Pope Francis and emphasizes the biblical call to protect nature and vulnerable populations. Leo highlighted the human causes of climate change, condemning injustices such as deforestation, pollution, and loss of biodiversity driven by greed and violations of international law. The Laudato Si center, named after Francis' 2015 encyclical, was the focal point of the Mass, underscoring the Church's ongoing mission to address ecological crises and their impact on the poor. Leo, the first American pope and a former missionary in Peru, has personally witnessed the effects of climate change on marginalized communities and is vocal about the need for urgent conversion and action. The Pope's homily linked this ecological mission to Christian faith, calling for peace, reconciliation, and care for the earth as a divine mandate.