Latest news with #CardinalCzerny
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Pope Leo interrupts vacation to appeal for action on climate change
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, July 9 (Reuters) - Pope Leo interrupted a two-week vacation on Wednesday to celebrate a special Mass exhorting Catholics to exercise care for creation, in the Vatican's second major appeal in a week for the world to address global climate change. "Today … we live in a world that is burning, both because of global warming and armed conflicts," the pontiff said in a small outdoor ceremony in Castel Gandolfo, an Italian hill town about an hour's drive from Rome where he is spending his holiday. "We have to pray for the conversion of many people … who still do not see the urgency of caring for our common home," said the pontiff. Leo, who was elected on May 8 to replace the late Pope Francis, did not mention specific natural disasters caused by global warming but said the world was experiencing an "ecological crisis". The new pope said the 1.4-billion-member Church was committed to speaking about the issue, "even when it requires the courage to oppose the destructive power of the princes of this world". The Mass included a prayer for victims of the flash flooding in Texas, where at least 109 deaths had been reported as of Tuesday. Leo, the first U.S. pope, celebrated Wednesday's Mass according to a new Catholic rite that exhorts people to care for creation, first published by the Vatican on July 3 in its latest push to address climate issues. Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official who helped to organise the Mass, told Reuters that Leo's decision to interrupt his vacation was a sign of the importance the new pope will place on environmental matters. "By offering this Mass … at the beginning of his holiday, Pope Leo is giving a beautiful example of thanking for God's great gift and praying that the human family learns to care for our common home," said Czerny. Francis, who died on April 21, was also a firm proponent of care for creation. He was the first pope to embrace the scientific consensus about climate change and urged nations, opens new tab to reduce their carbon emissions in line with the 2015 Paris climate accord. Leo is reviving a centuries-old tradition of popes taking holidays in Castel Gandolfo with a July 6-20 vacation in the sleepy hill town of about 8,900 residents on the shores of Lake Albano. Residents told Reuters earlier this month they hope Leo's visit will help boost tourism, with visitors coming to take part in public religious celebrations with the pope on July 13 and 20. Wednesday's Mass was held in the 55-hectare gardens of the papal villa, which Francis opened to visitors and turned into an ecological institute. The ceremony included several senior cardinals and about 50 staff members of the villa, gathered in front of a statue of Mary among tightly trimmed hedges in the garden.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Pope prays for Texas flood victims in climate crisis warning
Pope Leo XIV interrupted his holiday at Castel Gandolfo to issue a stark warning about a "burning" world, urging Catholics to address the climate crisis. This marks the Vatican 's second significant appeal on global warming within a week, with Leo characterising the global situation as an "ecological crisis". The pontiff called for prayer for the "conversion of many people" who do not recognise the urgency of caring for "our common home". Leo celebrated a Mass according to a new Catholic rite focused on care for creation, which included a prayer for victims of flash flooding in Texas. Cardinal Michael Czerny noted that Leo's decision to interrupt his holiday underscores the new pope's commitment to environmental matters, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope Francis.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Pope Leo interrupts holiday to issue warning: ‘We live in a world that is burning'
Pope Leo XIV has issued a stark warning about a 'burning' world as he interrupted his two-week holiday to urge Catholics to address the climate crisis. This marks the Vatican's second significant appeal on global warming within a week. Speaking from Castel Gandolfo, an Italian hill town near Rome where he is on holiday, the pontiff declared during a small outdoor ceremony: "Today … we live in a world that is burning, both because of global warming and armed conflicts." Leo, who was elected on 8 May to succeed Pope Francis, said: "We have to pray for the conversion of many people … who still do not see the urgency of caring for our common home." While refraining from naming specific climate-induced disasters, he characterised the global situation as an "ecological crisis". Leo said the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church was committed to speaking about the issue, "even when it requires the courage to oppose the destructive power of the princes of this world". The Mass included a prayer for victims of the flash flooding in Texas, where at least 111 people have died and 173 are still missing. Leo celebrated Wednesday's Mass according to a new Catholic rite that exhorts people to care for creation, first published by the Vatican on 3 July in its latest push to address climate issues. Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official who helped to organise the Mass, said that Leo's decision to interrupt his holiday was a sign of the importance the new pope will place on environmental matters. "By offering this Mass … at the beginning of his holiday, Pope Leo is giving a beautiful example of thanking for God's great gift and praying that the human family learns to care for our common home," said Cardinal Czerny. Garden mass Francis, who died on 21 April, was also a firm proponent of care for creation. He was the first pope to embrace the scientific consensus about climate change and urged nations to reduce their carbon emissions in line with the 2015 Paris climate accord. Leo is reviving a centuries-old tradition of popes taking holidays in Castel Gandolfo with a July 6-20 vacation in the sleepy hill town of about 8,900 residents on the shores of Lake Albano. Residents earlier said they hope Leo's visit will help boost tourism, with visitors coming to take part in public religious celebrations with the pope on 13 and 20 July. Wednesday's Mass was held in the 55-hectare gardens of the papal villa, which Francis opened to visitors and turned into an ecological institute. The ceremony included several senior cardinals and about 50 staff members of the villa, gathered in front of a statue of Mary among tightly trimmed hedges in the garden.
CNA
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Pope Leo interrupts vacation to appeal for action on climate change
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy: Pope Leo interrupted a two-week vacation on Wednesday (Jul 9) to celebrate a special Mass exhorting Catholics to exercise care for creation, in the Vatican's second major appeal in a week for the world to address global climate change. "Today … we live in a world that is burning, both because of global warming and armed conflicts," the pontiff said in a small outdoor ceremony in Castel Gandolfo, an Italian hill town about an hour's drive from Rome where he is spending his holiday. "We have to pray for the conversion of many people … who still do not see the urgency of caring for our common home," said the pontiff. Leo, who was elected on May 8 to replace the late Pope Francis, did not mention specific natural disasters caused by global warming but said the world was experiencing an "ecological crisis". The new pope said the 1.4-billion-member Church was committed to speaking about the issue, "even when it requires the courage to oppose the destructive power of the princes of this world". The Mass included a prayer for victims of the flash flooding in Texas, where at least 109 deaths had been reported as of Tuesday. Leo, the first US pope, celebrated Wednesday's Mass according to a new Catholic rite that exhorts people to care for creation, first published by the Vatican on Jul 3 in its latest push to address climate issues. Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official who helped to organise the Mass, told Reuters that Leo's decision to interrupt his vacation was a sign of the importance the new pope will place on environmental matters. "By offering this Mass … at the beginning of his holiday, Pope Leo is giving a beautiful example of thanking for God's great gift and praying that the human family learns to care for our common home," said Czerny. GARDEN MASS Francis, who died on Apr 21, was also a firm proponent of care for creation. He was the first pope to embrace the scientific consensus about climate change and urged nations to reduce their carbon emissions in line with the 2015 Paris climate accord. Leo is reviving a centuries-old tradition of popes taking holidays in Castel Gandolfo with a Jul 6-20 vacation in the sleepy hill town of about 8,900 residents on the shores of Lake Albano. Residents told Reuters earlier this month they hope Leo's visit will help boost tourism, with visitors coming to take part in public religious celebrations with the pope on Jul 13 and 20. Wednesday's Mass was held in the 55-hectare gardens of the papal villa, which Francis opened to visitors and turned into an ecological institute. The ceremony included several senior cardinals and about 50 staff members of the villa, gathered in front of a statue of Mary among tightly trimmed hedges in the garden.
Reuters
04-07-2025
- Science
- Reuters
Praying the world halts climate change? There's now a Catholic Mass for that
VATICAN CITY, July 3 (Reuters) - A new rite published by the Vatican on Thursday will allow priests to celebrate a Mass to exhort Catholics to exercise care for the Earth, in the latest push by the 1.4-billion-member global Church to address global climate change. For centuries, Catholic priests have been able to celebrate special Masses to pray for their country, give thanks after a harvest or ask God to end a natural disaster. The new "Mass for the care of creation," prepared by two Vatican offices, allows priests to pray that Catholics will "lovingly care" for creation and "learn to live in harmony with all creatures". "This Mass … calls us to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us – not only in daily choices and public policies, but also in our prayer, our worship, and our way of living in the world," said Cardinal Michael Czerny, presenting the rite at a Vatican press conference on Thursday. Catholic priests have the possibility of offering Masses for a range of special needs. The new rite, approved by Pope Leo, is the 50th option offered by the Vatican. The late Pope Francis was a firm proponent of care for creation. He was the first pope to embrace the scientific consensus about climate change and urged nations to reduce their carbon emissions in line with the 2015 Paris climate accord. "Pope Leo clearly will carry this pastoral and civil concern forward," Rev. Bruce Morrill, a Jesuit priest and expert on Catholic liturgy at Vanderbilt University in the U.S., told Reuters. "This new thematic Mass indicates the Church's recognition of the serious threats human-caused climate change is now fully realising," he said. The new Vatican rite comes two days after Catholic bishops from Asia, Africa and Latin America called on global governments to do more to address climate change, publishing a joint appeal that was the first of its kind.
