Quote from Alex bobby on July 10, 2025, 4:12 AM

Pope Leo XIV Celebrates First ‘Green Mass’ and Pledges Bold Climate Action

In a historic moment for the Catholic Church and the global environmental movement, Pope Leo XIV celebrated what is being hailed as the first “green Mass” on Wednesday. Held in the serene gardens of the new Laudato Si Ecological Educational Centre at Castle Gandolfo, the Mass marked a powerful symbolic and spiritual step forward in the Church’s commitment to climate justice and care for creation.

The new Mass rite, officially titled “Mass for the Care of Creation,” reflects an evolution in Catholic liturgy, aligning it more deeply with the Church’s growing ecological consciousness. It was approved by Pope Leo XIV and will be added to the list of 49 special Masses developed over the centuries for particular occasions and needs. The prayers and readings emphasise humanity’s responsibility to protect the natural world, echoing biblical themes of stewardship, humility, and justice.

Continuity with Francis, A New Chapter with Leo

The “green Mass” reflects a deliberate continuity with Pope Francis, who made environmental protection a cornerstone of his pontificate with his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’. That encyclical, now a foundational text for Catholic ecological advocacy, condemned the exploitation of the planet by the powerful and called for a “bold cultural revolution” to combat environmental degradation and climate change.

Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope and a former missionary in Peru, has signalled he will go even further. With firsthand experience of the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities in South America, Leo XIV is bringing a deeply personal and urgent perspective to the Vatican’s climate efforts.

In a recent message for the Church’s annual Day of Prayer for Creation, the pope made a passionate appeal for climate justice, decrying the “greed that fuels” deforestation, pollution, and biodiversity loss. He pointed to the human-driven nature of the crisis, saying bluntly:

“Climate change provoked by human activity… When justice and peace are trampled underfoot, those who are most hurt are the poor, the marginalised, and the excluded.”

He also called out violations of international law, Indigenous rights, and growing global inequality, framing environmental destruction not only as a scientific or political problem, but as a deep moral failure.

Setting a Solar Example: Vatican’s Path to Carbon Neutrality

Perhaps the most ambitious step Pope Leo XIV has taken so far is the announcement of a plan to transform the Vatican into the world’s first carbon-neutral state.

Building on an initiative launched under Pope Francis, Leo XIV has endorsed a project to convert a 430-hectare site in Santa Maria di Galeria, north of Rome, into a massive solar farm. If approved, the farm would generate enough clean energy to power all of Vatican City’s needs, effectively eliminating its carbon footprint.

The estimated €100 million investment would transform a site long associated with controversy—due to electromagnetic emissions from Vatican Radio towers—into a model of ecological conversion and innovation. The project requires Italian parliamentary approval because of the site's extraterritorial status, but the Vatican is hopeful about bipartisan support.

During a June visit to the future solar site, Pope Leo XIV described it as a “wonderful opportunity” and told RAI state television:

“The creation of such a farm would set a very important example: we are all aware of the effects of climate change, and we really need to take care of the whole of creation, as Pope Francis has taught so clearly.”

A Faith-Driven Environmental Movement

The Laudato Si Centre, where the green Mass was held, is part of a broader effort to expand ecological education and advocacy throughout the global Church. Inspired by Pope Francis’s writings and Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral commitment, the centre trains young leaders, hosts interfaith dialogues, and supports climate action projects in partnership with grassroots and Indigenous communities.

Officials say the idea for the green Mass emerged organically from these movements, as Catholics around the world sought more spiritual resources to integrate their faith with ecological activism. Now officially part of the Church’s liturgical tradition, the Mass will be celebrated in parishes around the globe, especially during key events like Earth Day and the Season of Creation.

A New Moral Compass

In choosing to elevate climate justice to the heart of Catholic worship and governance, Pope Leo XIV is offering a powerful moral compass for a planet in peril. His leadership reinforces the Church’s position that ecological collapse is not inevitable, but the result of human choices—and that it can be reversed through moral courage, global cooperation, and spiritual renewal.

As the world faces increasing environmental disasters and widening inequality, the pope’s message is clear: caring for creation is not optional—it is a sacred duty.

Looking Forward:

As Pope Leo XIV continues to build on the ecological legacy of his predecessor, the world will be watching how faith communities can lead transformative climate action. The Vatican’s push toward carbon neutrality and the introduction of creation-focused worship signal a future where spirituality and sustainability walk hand in hand. Looking ahead, this bold integration of environmental justice into the heart of Catholic life offers hope—not just for believers, but for a planet in need of healing.

Conclusion:

Pope Leo XIV’s celebration of the first “green Mass” and his bold commitment to making Vatican City the world’s first carbon-neutral state mark a profound turning point in the Church’s response to the climate crisis. By blending faith, science, and moral leadership, the pontiff is calling on the world to confront the greed and inequality that fuel environmental destruction. His actions send a powerful message: caring for creation is not just an ecological imperative—it is a spiritual one. As the global community searches for meaningful solutions, the Church under Pope Leo XIV is proving that it intends to lead by example, with courage, compassion, and conviction.

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Pope Leo XIV leads the first “green Mass” at the Vatican's new ecological centre and pledges to make Vatican City the world’s first carbon-neutral state through a massive solar project.