Participation in the First Celebration of the "Mass for the Care of Creation"

On the morning of Wednesday, July 9, in the gardens of Palazzo Barberini in Castel Gandolfo—at the "Borgo Laudato Si'," where he is spending a period of rest—Pope Leo XIV presided over the first celebration of the Holy Mass using the newly approved formulary "For the Care of Creation," which was officially presented at a press conference on July 3.

The Holy Father wished to concelebrate with representatives of four Dicasteries of the Roman Curia: for Promoting Integral Human Development, for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, for the Doctrine of the Faith, and for Promoting Christian Unity. These Dicasteries collaborated at various stages in the discernment process, which drew on insights from conferences held in Assisi and Rome involving Catholic theologians and liturgists, as well as representatives from various Christian communions worldwide.

Among the proposals discussed during this process was the inclusion of a "Feast of Creation" or a "Feast of the Creator" in the Liturgical Calendar. However, a more pastoral approach was ultimately chosen, providing a liturgical formulary that parishes, dioceses, and episcopal conferences may choose to use, in accordance with the principles outlined in the Editio Typica of the Roman Missal.

Representing the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity at the celebration was His Excellency Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Dicastery.