Pope Leo XIV was the first to celebrate the Mass for the Care of Creation, a new liturgical format that the new Pope officially green lit but which had been initiated by his predecessor.
He did so in Castel Gandolfo, in an open-air celebration during his vacation. The setting could not have been more fitting for its debut: the gardens of the Pontifical Villas, where the Borgo Laudato Si' center, promoted by Pope Francis and whose members were present, is located.
POPE LEO XIV
And you are the life of this Laudato Si' center and I would also like to say thank you at this moment, on this occasion, for everything you do following this beautiful inspiration of Pope Francis who has given this small portion, these gardens, these spaces, precisely to continue the very important portion of everything we already know after ten years of Laudato Si'.
The Pope had the text of his homily prepared, but decided to improvise the first part.
POPE LEO XIV
At the beginning of Mass we prayed for conversion, our conversion, and I would like to add that we must pray for the conversion of many people inside and outside the Church who still do not recognize the urgency of caring for our common home.
The celebration was attended by about 50 people, including staff from the Villas and some senior officials from the Curia. The Mass lasted about 50 minutes.
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