Pope Leo: ‘It is not yet too late’ to turn destruction into life
By Linda Bordoni
“It is not yet too late” to change course and redirect what has been used for destruction towards life, Pope Leo XIV said on Tuesday, urging Christians to make care for creation an expression of ecological conversion and universal fraternity.
The Pope was celebrating Mass at the Laudato Si’ Village in Castel Gandolfo on 1 September, marking the annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the beginning of the five-week Season of Creation.
Reflecting on the biblical readings, Pope Leo invited the faithful to contemplate the beauty of the natural world and, through it, to recognise the Creator.
In the gardens of the Laudato Si’ Village, he said, this invitation to contemplate creation is particularly fitting. “It would be superficial to marvel at fire, wind, rushing waters or the stars of heaven, without allowing our gaze to rise to the Creator of such wonders,” he noted.
Listen to the ‘melodious voice’ of creation
The Pope asked those present to step back from the pace and noise of everyday life and rediscover their place within the harmony of creation noting that the Season of Creation provides an opportunity to “pause from the frenzy of our daily lives” and to recognize that humanity itself is part of the profound harmony found in God’s creation.
“Let us place in ‘silent mode’ the many noises generated by human activity,” Pope Leo said, “so that we may hear the melodious voice of creation, through which God, the Author of all things, speaks to us.”
The Pope explained that this “task” of contemplation is more than an appreciation of the natural world and noted that it is the beginning of an encounter with God that can lead to a transformation in the way human beings relate to creation.
It is the first step, he said, towards an “authentic ecological conversion”, in which the effects of an encounter with Jesus Christ become visible in humanity’s relationship with the world.
A responsibility shared by all
Contemplating creation and encountering its Creator, Pope Leo said, leads to a deeper awareness of humanity’s place within God’s plan — and of the responsibility that follows from it.
That responsibility is both personal and collective, he said.
“As we become conscious of our shortcomings and failures,” he continued, “we can renew our commitment to restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator.”
The Pope then turned to one of the central themes of this year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation: the transformation of instruments of destruction into instruments that sustain life.
Referring to the biblical prophecy to “beat swords into ploughshares” which is also the theme for his message for the World Day, he said the call is to “transform harm into life”.
“It is not yet too late,” Pope Leo insisted.
“What has been used for destruction can be redirected toward life,” he said, “toward the care of the poor, the nourishment of the hungry, and the safeguarding of creation.”
Following the example of Saint Francis
The Season of Creation will conclude on 4 October, when the Church commemorates the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Pope Leo recalled that Pope Francis drew particular inspiration from the saint when writing Laudato Si’ and in establishing the Laudato Si’ Village, where the Mass was celebrated.
Inviting the faithful to unite themselves spiritually with the “Little poor man of Assisi”, Pope Leo turned to the Canticle of the Creatures, in which Saint Francis praises God through the sun, moon and stars, wind, water, fire and the earth.
“With Saint Francis,” he said, “let us renew our commitment to living and promoting that universal fraternity which is inseparably bound to the task of caring for creation.”
