His Holiness Pope Leo XIV: care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity

Environmental Justice is an Urgent Issue in Light of All the Dangers Threatening the Creation!

Photo: Vatican Media

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

With hope mixed with the joy of Prayer and working together, and with a firm belief in love and solidarity, the Ecumenical family in the Middle East and the world celebrates on of the most glorious annual Ecumenical seasons. It is the "Season of Creation," which calls on every person on this earth to renew their relationship with God and all His creatures.

This year's "Season of Creation" coincides with two important occasions: the 1700th Commemoration of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and the tenth anniversary of the Encyclical "Laudato Si'," issued by His Holiness the late Pope Francis on the protection of our common home.

For his part, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV pursues the environmental issue from the standpoint of the Christian faith and the foundations of environmental Theology. As is his annual custom, he issued his message on the occasion of the tenth World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which falls on September 1 of each year.

Seeds of Peace and Hope

"In Christ, we too are seeds, and indeed, ‘seeds of peace and hope’." This is what His Holiness emphasized in his message, entitled " Seeds of Peace and Hope," focusing on justice and truth which heal the harshness of the desert.

The Supreme Pontiff expresses his deep concern about the crises and challenges facing the Earth, which contribute to its slide toward ruin. In this context, His Holiness points out that “injustice, violations of international law and the rights of peoples, grave inequalities and the greed that fuels them are spawning deforestation, pollution and the loss of biodiversity…” There is a lack of awareness that the destruction of nature does not affect everyone equally. “When justice and peace are trampled underfoot, those who are most hurt are the poor, the marginalized and the excluded.”

Hence, the concept of environmental justice, which His Holiness spoke of, emerges, noting that this justice “can no longer be regarded as an abstract concept or a distant goal. It is an urgent need that involves much more than simply protecting the environment. For it is a matter of justice – social, economic and human.”

Theologically, His Holiness mentions that the environmental justice is “a duty born of faith, since the universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed. In a world where the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters are the first to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation and pollution, care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity.”

Prayer for Humanity and Creation

Based on the urgent and timely environmental issue, his Holiness Pope Leo XIV's video message regarding his Prayer intention for the month of September, which is broadcasted monthly through the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, was released. In it, the Pope called to Pray this month for humanity's relationship with creation.

In the message, the Supreme Pontiff raises his Prayers, asking the Lord to help people discover His presence in all of creation, so that they may feel, understand, and realize that they are responsible for this common home in which they are called to preserve, respect, and protect life.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV said: “Lord, You love everything You have created, and nothing exists outside the mystery of Your tenderness. Every creature, no matter how small, is the fruit of Your love and has a place in this world. Even the simplest or shortest life is surrounded by Your care. Like St. Francis of Assisi, today we too want to say: ‘Praised be You, my Lord!’”.

It is worth noting that the Supreme Pontiff presided over a Divine Liturgy for the Care of Creation on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Castel Gandolfo, specifically in the Laudato Si' Village, founded at the initiative of His Holiness the late Pope Francis as a space for formation and awareness-raising about the protection of our common home.

This common home, which more than ever needs care, protection, and respect!