Pope Leo: ‘It is Not Yet Too Late’ to Care for Creation

Castel Gandolfo, September 2, 2026: Urging Christians to deepen their commitment to caring for creation, Pope Leo XIV said that resources and instruments used for destruction can still be redirected towards sustaining life, caring for the poor and protecting the environment.

The Pope made the appeal on September 1 while celebrating Holy Mass at the Laudato Si’ Village in Castel Gandolfo. The celebration marked the 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the beginning of the five-week Season of Creation.

Reflecting on the biblical readings, Pope Leo invited the faithful to contemplate the beauty of creation and, through it, recognise its Creator. He said the setting of the Laudato Si’ Village gardens offered a particularly appropriate place for such reflection.

“It would be superficial to marvel at fire, wind, rushing waters or the stars of heaven, without allowing our gaze to rise to the Creator of such wonders,” he said.

*Hearing the voice of creation*

Pope Leo encouraged those present to step away from the noise and hurried pace of everyday life and rediscover humanity’s place within the harmony of creation. He described the Season of Creation as an opportunity to “pause from the frenzy of our daily lives” and recognise that human beings are themselves part of the harmony of God’s creation.

“Let us place in ‘silent mode’ the many noises generated by human activity,” Pope Leo said, “so that we may hear the melodious voice of creation, through which God, the Author of all things, speaks to us.”

He explained that contemplation of creation goes beyond simply appreciating the natural world. It can become the beginning of an encounter with God that changes the way people relate to creation.

According to the Pope, this is the first step towards an “authentic ecological conversion”, through which the effects of an encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in humanity’s relationship with the world.

*A shared responsibility*

Pope Leo said that contemplating creation and encountering its Creator helps people understand more deeply their place within God’s plan and the responsibility that comes with it. He stressed that this responsibility is both personal and collective.

“As we become conscious of our shortcomings and failures,” he said, “we can renew our commitment to restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator.”

The Pope then highlighted one of the central themes of this year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation: transforming instruments of destruction into means that sustain life.

Referring to the biblical call to “beat swords into ploughshares”, which also forms the theme of his message for the World Day, Pope Leo described this as a call to “transform harm into life”.

“It is not yet too late,” Pope Leo insisted.

“What has been used for destruction can be redirected toward life,” he said, “toward the care of the poor, the nourishment of the hungry, and the safeguarding of creation.”

*Inspired by Saint Francis*

The Season of Creation will conclude on October 4, when the Church commemorates the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Pope Leo recalled that Pope Francis drew particular inspiration from Saint Francis when writing 'Laudato Si’ and when establishing the Laudato Si’ Village, where the Mass was celebrated.

Inviting the faithful to unite themselves spiritually with the “Little poor man of Assisi”, Pope Leo referred to the 'Canticle of the Creatures', in which Saint Francis praises God through the sun, moon and stars, wind, water, fire and earth.

“With Saint Francis,” Pope Leo said, “let us renew our commitment to living and promoting that universal fraternity which is inseparably bound to the task of caring for creation.”

Courtesy: Vatican News