Pope to Celebrate First ‘Green’ Mass in Castel Gandolfo

Vatican city: Pope Leo XIV is set to celebrate the Catholic Church’s inaugural ‘green’ Mass at Castel Gandolfo, marking a significant milestone in the Church’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The Vatican announced that this Mass, scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, will be dedicated to Pope Francis’ influential environmental encyclical, Laudato si’.

According to Ansa News Agency, the ‘green’ Mass has been integrated into the Church’s Mass ‘formularies,’ emphasizing the protection of creation, environmental conservation, and integral ecology. Pope Leo XIV has prioritized issues like climate change and land consumption, continuing the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis. He will personally lead the first Mass using the new formulary at Borgo Laudato si’ in Castel Gandolfo, an area embodying the principles of sustainability and circular economy promoted by the encyclical.

The Mass on July 9 will be a private event, exclusively attended by those working at Borgo Laudato si’, as explained by Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Integral Development. This new formulary, called the “Mass for the protection of creation,” includes prayers and readings inspired by Laudato si’, addressing concerns raised by global Churches in recent years.

Pope Leo XIV has approved a decree from the Dicastery for Divine Worship, reinforcing the Church’s dedication to addressing the climate crisis and environmental protection. Simultaneously, a document from Churches in the Global South has called for significant changes at the upcoming Cop30 in Brazil, emphasizing the pressing need to rectify the damage caused by irresponsible exploitation of the planet’s resources.