As we get ready to welcome the Season of Creation (September 1 to October 4), the Laudato Si’ Movement is excited to share some beautiful news!
Pope Leo XIV has introduced a special Mass for the Care of Creation (Missa pro custodia creationis) to mark two meaningful anniversaries: the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, written by the late Pope Francis, and the 800th anniversary of The Canticle of the Creatures by Saint Francis.
This decree presents a wonderful opportunity to integrate our care for our common home into the heart of the Church.
The Movement invites parishes, schools, and communities to incorporate the new Mass for Creation into their Season of Creation plans.
The Vatican released translations of the new Mass texts into six languages (English, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German) to expand its use for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. Please note that all of this is provisional until it is officially approved by the local bishops’ conferences. As such, they should not yet be used during Sunday Mass, unless a local bishop approves.
Priests are invited to celebrate the Mass for the Care of Creation on Mon., Sept. 1, and other dates that do not fall on a Sunday.
As the Vatican explained during a press conference, episcopal conferences can request their parishes to use the Mass on Creation Day, as the Philippine bishops have already done. We hope more bishops and episcopal conferences will follow suit and encourage this celebration in the years to come!
Including a Mass for the Care of Creation in Your Season of Creation Plans
Already planning something special for the Season of Creation — maybe a prayer service, community clean-up, workshop, or pilgrimage? Wonderful! Why not take it one step further and include the beautiful Mass for the Care of Creation — or weave in some of its elements?
Here are a few ideas to inspire you:
- Celebrate outdoors, in the “Cathedral of Creation,” if possible, following the example of Pope Leo XIV, who celebrated the first Creation Mass in nature.
- Begin with a reading from Pope Leo’s 2025 Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, or Pope Francis’ 2015 letter establishing Creation Day.
- Use Creation-themed hymns throughout the liturgy. (What are your favorites?)
- During the Penitential Act, include a moment of lament for the destruction of God’s creation and repentance for “ecological sins” (Laudato Si’, §8).
Some Other Helpful Tips to Plan a Mass for the Care of Creation:
- Before the Creed, take a moment to highlight the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, which invites the faithful to affirm the Trinity as Creator: the Father, the Son “through whom all things were made,” and the Holy Spirit, “the giver of life.”
- Include creation-centered intentions during the Prayers of the Faithful — a beautiful way to lift up our hopes and concerns for our common home.
- During the Eucharistic Prayer, use Eucharistic Prayer IV, which emphasizes God’s presence in all creation.
- For the Offertory, offer items from nature (such as flowers, fruits, seeds, or water) alongside the bread and wine.
A Blessing for the Whole Church
The Mass for the Care of Creation is a beautiful gift — a chance to deepen our ecological commitment through prayer and worship. With the support of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican hopes this Mass will soon become a regular part of Creation Day celebrations around the world.
While we wait for official translations and wider approval from bishops’ conferences, this Mass is still a powerful way to gather and reflect — just keep in mind it’s meant for weekday celebrations, not Sundays (for now!).
Let’s embrace this moment of grace and let our love for creation shine through our liturgy.
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