Pope Leo XIV Celebrates First Green Mass to Champion Climate Action

Castel Gandolfo, Italy – In a powerful show of faith and environmental commitment, Pope Leo XIV officiated the first-ever “Green Mass” on Wednesday. Held at the Vatican’s ecological education center in Castel Gandolfo, the service was designed to inspire climate awareness and align with Pope Francis’ legacy of creation care.

🌿 A New Chapter in Papal Worship

The Mass featured newly introduced prayers and scripture readings centered on environmental stewardship. Surrounded by the lush gardens of the papal estate, Pope Leo wore green liturgical vestments and stood before a statue of the Madonna, reflecting the sacred bond between nature and spirituality.

🙏 A Plea for Urgent Climate Response

During his homily, Pope Leo addressed the increasing severity of global environmental disasters. “We must pray for the conversion of hearts—both within the Church and across the world—who still fail to see the urgency of caring for our common home,” he said. He linked many of today’s natural disasters to unsustainable lifestyles and called for both spiritual and practical change.

📖 Building on Pope Francis’ Environmental Vision

The Green Mass draws inspiration from Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, which emphasized ecological responsibility and justice. Pope Leo’s liturgy continues that mission, formally incorporating environmental consciousness into Catholic worship.

🌎 Vatican’s Eco Ambitions

Pope Leo also reaffirmed plans to build a 430-hectare solar energy project at Santa Maria di Galeria. If approved, the initiative would make Vatican City the world’s first carbon-neutral nation, extending its spiritual leadership into ecological innovation.

💬 A Global Message of Faith and Action

This symbolic and historic Mass signals that climate action is not only a political or scientific issue—it is a moral and spiritual imperative. By institutionalizing ecological values into Church liturgy, Pope Leo XIV is setting a global example for faith communities to follow.

Source: AP News