The Vatican has published a new rite, “Mass for the care of creation,” allowing Catholic priests to celebrate a special Mass focused on environmental stewardship and care for the Earth. This move is the latest effort by the 1.4-billion-member global Church to address the pressing issue of global climate change.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!For centuries, Catholic priests have been able to celebrate special Masses for various occasions, such as praying for their country, giving thanks after a harvest, or seeking divine intervention to end a natural disaster. The new rite, 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”.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, presenting the rite at a Vatican press conference, emphasized the importance of faithful stewardship. “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.”
The new rite is the 50th option offered by the Vatican, approved by Pope Leo. The late Pope Francis was a strong advocate for environmental care and acknowledged the scientific consensus on climate change. He urged nations to reduce carbon emissions in line with the 2015 Paris climate accord.
Rev. Bruce Morrill, a Jesuit priest and expert on Catholic liturgy at Vanderbilt University, believes that Pope Leo will continue the pastoral and civil concern for creation started by Pope Francis. “This new thematic Mass indicates the Church’s recognition of the serious threats human-caused climate change is now fully realizing,” he said.
The introduction of the new Vatican rite comes two days after Catholic bishops from Asia, Africa, and Latin America published a joint appeal calling on global governments to do more to address climate change. This joint appeal is the first of its kind, highlighting the growing concern within the Catholic Church about the need for environmental stewardship and action against climate change.