Pope Leo XIV approved a new liturgical form for Mass, inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', published ten years ago.
CARD. VÍCTOR MANUEL FERNÁNDEZ
Prefect, Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
I believe that this formula of the Mass, which incorporates the mystery of creation, is a very important advancement—much more than people realize—because after Laudato Si', we lacked this kind of liturgical expression.
The structure of the Mass will remain the same. There will only be small changes in the prayers, which in this case will refer to the care of creation.
CARD. VÍCTOR MANUEL FERNÁNDEZ
Prefect, Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
Some, before this work, would say: ‘But liturgical prayer is addressed to God. I ask God for help. My praise is directed to God. So what does creation have to do with it?’ It’s not like that, because, for example, we have a Mass in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, and I don’t pray to the basilica—I pray to God. But the basilica is the reason for the celebration. All prayers in the liturgy are directed to God.
The new liturgy was presented at the Vatican by Cardinal Czerny, Prefect for the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Archbishop Viola, Secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship.
Both explained that the goal was to respond to requests from the faithful and to highlight the concept of the “common home” while raising awareness about nature.
MONS. VITTORIO FRANCESCO VIOLA
Secretary, Dicastery for Divine Worship
In these ten years, Pope Francis, with Laudato Si', has helped us become aware of the ecological issue from a Christian anthropological perspective. We often hastily label it simply as an ecological encyclical, but I think I can say it is more of an eco-social one—with a broader perspective—and therefore fits within that clear theological framework of what creation is.
This new formula will be included in the Roman Missal, which already contains 49 other variations of the Mass for different needs or occasions. Cardinal Czerny gave some examples during the presentation.
CARD. MICHAEL CZERNY
Prefect, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
For the progress of peoples in time of war or civil disobedience, for refugees and exiles and migrants, in time of earthquake, for rain, and now for the care of creation.
The person who will debut this new formula is Pope Leo XIV himself, even though the development began during Pope Francis' pontificate.
He will do so on July 9 in a private celebration attended by employees and the team from Borgo Laudato Si', a project based on the Argentinian pope’s encyclical. Fittingly, the first celebration of this Mass will take place in Castel Gandolfo.
CA
Trans. CRT
