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Pope Leo XIV Debuts New ‘Green’ Mass to Bolster Climate Justice

Approved at Castel Gandolfo’s ecological center, the new rite underscores the Church’s focus on human-driven environmental harm.

Pope Leo XIV, newly elected, waves to the people from the terrace of the summer papal estate in Castel Gandolfo, approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Rome, on July 6, 2025. This two-week sojourn marks the revival of a longstanding papal tradition that had been temporarily suspended during the pontificate of Pope Francis. Castel Gandolfo eagerly anticipates the arrival of a pope for the first time in over a decade. (Photo by Maria Grazia Picciarella / Middle East Images via AFP)
Pope Leo XIV smiles as he arrives at Castel Gandolfo, a hill town on the shores of Lake Albano, where he will be spending two weeks of vacation, in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 6, 2025. REUTERS/Vincenzo Livieri/File Photo
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Overview

  • The new “care for creation” formula joins 49 specialized Masses developed over centuries to address specific needs.
  • Celebrated in the gardens of the Vatican’s ecological educational center, the Mass signals tangible continuity with Pope Francis’ environmental initiatives.
  • Pope Leo interrupted his two-week holiday to lead the service and call for urgent care for the planet.
  • Attendees included senior cardinals and staff members who prayed for at least 109 victims of recent Texas flash floods.
  • In a message for the Church’s day of prayer for creation, the pontiff identified “climate change provoked by human activity” and highlighted its unequal impact on the poor and marginalized.