Figure 1: Picture of pope Leo XIV celebrating the Mass for the care of creation in the gardens of Castel Gandolfo on July 9th. Derived from: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-07/pope-leo-xiv-mass-care-creation-borgo-laudato-si-castel-gandolfo.html

Blog by Bryan van de Mortel

Outdoor celebration

Amidst widespread media attention, the Vatican[1] announced in July the new Mass for the care of creation. Pope Leo XIV presided over an "outdoor" celebration in the gardens of Castel Gandolfo on July 9th with collaborators from the Borgo Laudato Si. The Borgo is a new educational and economic project on the Castel Gandolfo estate that seeks to embody Pope Francis’ vision of integral ecology. The choice of location for the celebration of this first Mass, which had been officially presented in the Vatican a few days earlier, on July 3th, had therefore been given considerable thought.

The setting of the celebration in the gardens already had an inspiring effect. Molly Wysocki writes in America Magazine[2] a positive review of her experience. She admits she didn't understand the textual content of the Mass due to her lack of Italian proficiency. Nevertheless, she experienced a special relationship with the other attendees that, in her opinion, transcended the spoken word: “We were unified simply by our shared presence and faith.” What's also remarkable is that she doesn't just characterize this relationship with the people around her. Molly also speaks in her article about an experience of interconnectedness: “Surrounded by the warmth of the sun, a cool breeze and the soft chirping of birds, I found myself completely calm and fully present. I was moved by the perceptible sense of interconnectedness that enveloped the space.”

New Mass and the call of Laudato Si'

The "outdoor" setting of the Mass may have contributed more to this experience than the liturgical texts themselves. Yet, it's interesting to ask to what extent this new formulary of Mass actually attempts to express a renewed vision of the relationship between God, humanity, and creation. Teresa Berger[3], Professor of Liturgical Studies, is somewhat critical in a short contribution. She finds the content of the prayer texts disappointing. She misses several core biblical texts that, in her opinion, could have been better chosen. Furthermore, she also calls the anthropocentric perspective of the Mass formula inadequate. Her contribution does indeed raise the question of whether we are dealing here with merely a symbolic gesture that does not adequately express the developments in ecology and theology?

At the presentation of the new Mass, Cardinal Czerny[4] however expresses clearly the intention of the dicastery. They wanted to meet the wishes of Laudato Si' which contain the latest magisterial contents on the subject. In particular number 67 of the encyclical[5] was an important starting point, which, according to Mgr. Viola[6] indicates the main inspiration and message of the title of this Mass. In number 67, Pope Francis speaks clearly about the importance of a correct interpretation of the Bible, especially regarding the creation stories in Genesis. Francis emphasizes that the blessing God (Gen. 1:28) gives humanity doesn't contain a call to absolute domination and unbridled exploitation. This passage must be read in conjunction with another passage (Gen. 2:15), in which God places humanity in the Garden of Eden and commands us to till and keep it. The earth is to be cultivated in this way, and at the same time, it needs our care and protection. This is where the idea of responsible stewardship actually emerges as an alternative to an excessive form of anthropocentrism.

Application of the perspectives of Yves de Maeseneer

Yves De Maeseneer[7] also describes this step in an article, in which he identifies the limitations of this anthropocentric model. Thereafter, he arrives at a description of the ecocentric approach that has also emerged. Yet, Laudato Si' itself seems to go a step further. Francis, in number 67, also implies “the mutual responsibility between human beings and nature”. This is rather a cautious rapprochement with ecocentrism, where the interests of the ecosystem are considered in harmony with humanity.[8] The interrelatedness and coordination between anthropocentrism and ecocentrism discussed here is described by Ryan Patrick McLaughlin[9] as “relation-centrism”.

It is precisely this balance in the mutual relations between God, man and creation that underlies the development of a vision around integral ecology that Pope Francis describes’[10]. The new formula of Mass uses this theological framework and aims to be a liturgical expression of it.[11] When we look at the prayers and biblical texts of the Mass[12] it is therefore hardly surprising that creation emerges as a theocentric sign referring to the glorification of God. An example of this is the opening psalm (Ps. 18:2): "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands." Even less surprising is that the faithful are encouraged to be loyal stewards, as recalled in the opening prayer: "Grant, we pray, we may lovingly care for the work of your hands." It thus has an anthropocentric focus. This subtly indicates that the human call to care does not arise from dominance or ownership, but rather signifies a task and subsidiary stewardship.

The true renewal, in which creation itself is the focal point, is still meager and appears only in the prayer after Communion: "We may learn to live in harmony with all creatures". At first it may give the impression of a prudent embrace of ecocentrism because it speaks of an “harmony of all creatures.” The way this harmony is expressed, however, is also formulated in an anthropocentric way. Emphasis is placed on the human being who "may learn to live." Moreover, the prayer also seems to introduce a theological distinction; a gradation in the mode of union. It begins namely with the expression: “May the sacrament of unity which we have received, O Father, increase communion with you and with our brothers and sisters” A higher form of "communion" exists between God and humans and between humans themselves, but between humans and other creatures there is only a possibility of "harmony." Therefore, this prayer explicitly excludes any form of ecocentrism based on mutual equality. It emphasizes the distinction between humanity and the rest of creation.  Moreover, only fellow human beings are explicitly called "brothers and sisters," but with regard to the non-human creation the prayer just speaks of "all creatures”. The prayer shows more a conviction of interrelatedness and can thus be interpreted as relation-centric.

Mass of Creation symbolic gesture?

This brings us back to an important critical question we should ask ourselves: is the publication of this new Mass merely a symbolic gesture? The answer is more complicated than it seems. The formula aims to reflect the vision developed by Pope Francis in Laudato si', which primarily revolves around an integral ecology. An ecological vision of the Church that, based on its theology, seeks to express the relationship between God, humanity, and creation, seems unable to fully embrace certain principles of the ecological movement, such as ecocentrism. How does this impact our desire for interconnectedness? Perhaps an outdoor setting really can, in that regard, have a better impact on our feelings and experiences than these respectable prayers and texts.

Bibliography 

https://media.benedictine.edu/pope-leo-xiv-approved-a-new-mass-for-the-care-of-creation-what-is-it

https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/ncr-voices/new-mass-care-creation-mixed-bag

https://praytellblog.com/index.php/2025/07/06/the-new-mass-for-the-care-of-creation-when-better-than-nothing-simply-is-not-good-enough/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLZDPFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHrBoxH8-l9cR6Wd7a4Gt4Jf0hhtnSbJX3rwvbjZn4Wz3Djztii9RTfnq072w_aem_1GXP4_NEAQ5-o-HjeOjDTg

https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/the-tip-of-the-iceberg-the-global-south-pope-leo-and-a-mass-for-creation/

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/07/03/250703d.html

https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/thoughts-about-the-mass-for-care-of-creation

https://wherepeteris.com/pope-leo-xiv-and-care-for-creation/

Footnotes

[1] de Carvalho, Isabella H. (2025, July 3th). Pope Leo XIV will celebrate a Mass for the Care of Creation on July 9. Vaticannews.va. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-07/mass-care-for-creation-roman-missal-pope-leo-xiv-laudato-si.html (consulted, November 12th)

[2] Wysocki, Molly. (2025, September 12th). I attended Pope Leo’s Mass for the Care of Creation. Here’s what it taught me about love of neighbor. Americamagazine.org. https://www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus/2025/09/12/pope-leo-care-of-creation-mass/ (consulted 2025, November 12th)

[3] Berger, Teresa. (2025, July 6th). The New “Mass for the Care of Creation”: When “better than nothing” simply is “not good enough”. Praytellblog.com. https://praytellblog.com/index.php/2025/07/06/the-new-mass-for-the-care-of-creation-when-better-than-nothing-simply-is-not-good-enough/ (consulted 2025, November 12th)

[4] Czerny, Card. Michael, S.J. (2025, July 3th). Presenting the Mass for the Care of Creation. Humandevelopment.va. https://www.humandevelopment.va/content/dam/sviluppoumano/news/2025-news/07-luglio/missa-pro-custodia-creationis/Presentazione-Messa_Card.-M.-Czerny-1.pdf (consulted 2025, November 12th)

[5] Franciscus, pope. (2015, May 24th). Laudato si’. On care for our common home. (Nr. 67) Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si_en.pdf (consulted 2025, November 12th)

[6] Viola, S.E. Mgr. Vittorio Francesco, O.F.M. (2025, July 3th). Speech on press conference Holy See Press Office. Humandevelopment.va. https://www.humandevelopment.va/content/dam/sviluppoumano/news/2025-news/07-luglio/missa-pro-custodia-creationis/2025-07-03-Presentazione-Mons.-Viola-Sintesi-IT-EN.pdf (consulted 2025, November 12th)

[7] De Maeseneer, Yves. (2020). Wij zijn het klimaat? Op zoek naar onze plaats tussen de schepselen. En door wie alles geschapen is. Scheppingsgeloof en ecologie. 91-99

[8] “Idem”

[9] “Idem”

[10] Franciscus, pope. (2015, May 24th). Laudato si’. On care for our common home. (Nr. 137) Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si_en.pdf (consulted 2025, November 12th)

[11] Viola, S.E. Mgr. Vittorio Francesco, O.F.M. (2025, July 3th). Speech on press conference Holy See Press Office. Humandevelopment.va. https://www.humandevelopment.va/content/dam/sviluppoumano/news/2025-news/07-luglio/missa-pro-custodia-creationis/2025-07-03-Presentazione-Mons.-Viola-Sintesi-IT-EN.pdf (consulted 2025, November 12th)

[12] Vatican. (2025, July 3th). Mass for the care of creation. Humandevelopment.va. https://www.humandevelopment.va/content/dam/sviluppoumano/news/2025-news/07-luglio/missa-pro-custodia-creationis/3.-Formulario-Missa-Pro-Custodia-Creationis-IT-EN-SP-FR-PT-TED-trad-di-lavoro.pdf (consulted 2025, November 12th)