Amazon Bishops Open Assembly with Laudato Si’-Inspired Mass by Pope Leo

The bishops of the Amazon opened their general assembly with a Mass dedicated to the protection of creation. The liturgy mirrored the same celebration inaugurated by Pope Leo XIV on 9 July in Castel Gandolfo, inspired by the encyclical Laudato Si’.

At the beginning of the Mass, Pope Leo underscored the importance of personal and collective conversion in caring for the environment.

“At the beginning of the Mass, we prayed for conversion, for our conversion,” he said. “And I want to add that we must pray for the conversion of many people, inside and outside the Church, who still do not recognise the urgency of caring for our common home.”

The Pope later addressed the bishops in a telegram, cautioning against two extremes: the destruction of nature and its deification.

"Let no one irresponsibly destroy the natural goods that speak of the goodness and beauty of the Creator, nor, much less, submit to them as a slave or worshipper of nature, since things have been given to achieve our end of praising God,” the message read.

Pope Leo XIV’s remarks echo the central theme of Laudato Si’, which emphasises ecological responsibility as an integral part of Christian faith. He reminded the bishops that protecting the environment is a duty that arises from reverence for God, the Creator, rather than from elevating nature to divine status.

The Church has long rejected pantheistic interpretations of creation. From its earliest centuries, Catholic teaching has condemned the doctrine that God and the universe are one and the same. Instead, Catholic doctrine upholds that God is transcendent and distinct from His creation. While creation reveals His goodness and beauty, it remains a gift given to humanity for the purpose of praising Him.

The opening Mass of the Amazon bishops’ assembly therefore carried both spiritual and practical significance. It reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to ecological conversion, while clarifying the theological foundation that distinguishes Christian care for creation from non-Christian or pantheistic beliefs.

In line with Pope Leo XIV’s call, the assembly will focus on fostering greater awareness and responsibility among the faithful to protect the Amazon, often described as the “lungs of the planet”. The bishops are expected to discuss concrete pastoral strategies that address the ecological, social, and cultural challenges facing the region.

By beginning their meeting with a liturgy rooted in Laudato Si’, the bishops signalled their unity with the Holy Father and their determination to strengthen the Church’s witness in safeguarding creation for future generations.

Source: Rome Reports

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