- 31 August, 2025
Vatican City, August 31, 2025 — Pope Leo has renewed his invitation for Christians across the world to unite in celebrating the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on 1 September. This year’s observance draws inspiration from the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and carries the theme: “Seeds of Peace and Hope.”
Speaking during the Sunday Angelus, the Pope reminded the faithful that Pope Francis had extended this celebration to Catholics ten years ago by instituting the World Day of Prayer for Creation. He stressed that prayer for Creation is “now more urgent and important than ever.”
“Together with all Christians, we celebrate it and extend it into the Season of Creation until 4 October, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi,” he said. “In the spirit of the Canticle of Brother Sun, composed 800 years ago, let us praise God and renew our commitment not to spoil His gift, but to care for our common home.”
Ancient tradition, renewed urgency
Creation Day, also known as the World Day of Prayer for Creation, has its roots in the Orthodox Church, which introduced it in 1989. Drawing on a 5th-century Orthodox liturgical tradition, the day is devoted to praising God as Creator, reflecting on the mystery of Creation in Christ, and inspiring stewardship of the natural world.
The World Council of Churches (WCC), which unites Orthodox and Protestant communities, has released a new video tracing the history and symbolism of the day. Many Catholic Bishops’ Conferences had already been observing Creation Day since the 1990s, but in 2015 Pope Francis formally instituted it for the universal Catholic Church, publishing annual messages to guide the celebration.
‘Seeds of Peace and Hope’
Continuing the tradition of his predecessor, Pope Leo issued a special message for Creation Day 2025.
“The theme of this World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, chosen by our beloved Pope Francis, is ‘Seeds of Peace and Hope’,” he said. “On the tenth anniversary of the establishment of this Day of Prayer, which coincided with the publication of the Encyclical Laudato si’, we find ourselves celebrating the present Jubilee as Pilgrims of Hope.”
The Pope underlined that for believers, environmental justice is an obligation rooted in faith, since “the universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed.”
New liturgical pathway
As part of this year’s observance, Pope Leo promulgated the new Mass for the Care of Creation formulary. The Dicastery for Divine Worship explained that it is intended for possible use on the World Day of Prayer for Creation, offering Catholic communities a liturgical framework for the first time, beyond traditional ecumenical prayer services.
The initiative is being coordinated globally by the WCC, under the leadership of its Moderator, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, in collaboration with Christian world communions and partner organisations.
By Vatican News
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