7 days ago
Vatican Publishes a New Mass on Caring for the Environment
The Vatican on Thursday released a new rite for Mass that can 'be used to ask God for the ability to care for creation,' a Vatican official said, a sign of the church's commitment to environmental protection, especially climate action.
The new Mass, titled 'Mass for the Care of Creation,' is inspired, in part, by Pope Francis' landmark 2015 encyclical on the environment, 'Laudato Si',' or 'Praise Be To You.' It was approved by Pope Leo XIV, who appears determined to carry forward his predecessor's engagement on the issue.
'With this Mass, the Church is offering liturgical, spiritual and communal support for the care we all need to exercise of nature, our common home,' said Cardinal Michael Czerny, presenting the rite at a Vatican news conference on Thursday.
The new Mass was published a day after Pope Leo stated his concerns for the environment through a message for an upcoming day of prayer 'for the care of creation,' on Sept. 1. Leo warned of 'the evidence in various parts of the world that our earth is being ravaged.'
That meant, he wrote, that 'environmental justice' could 'no longer be regarded as an abstract concept or a distant goal' but had become 'an urgent need that involves much more than simply protecting the environment.'
'For it is a matter of justice — social, economic and human,' he added.
The idea for the new Mass began under Francis, who made care for the environment a cornerstone of his papacy. There was also a desire to respond to 'various requests for a liturgical way of celebrating the meaning and the message of 'Laudato Si','' Cardinal Czerny said.
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