Pope Leo XIV urges care for Earth and water in September prayer

Pope Leo XIV held a special Mass for the environment on Tuesday, urging the faithful to listen to the "melodious voice of creation" and condemning the destruction caused by wars. The ceremony took place in the gardens of the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome. In his homily, the pope called for a moment of reflection to set aside human-generated noise. "Let us place in silent mode the many noises generated by human activity so that we may hear the melodious voice of creation," he said. He expressed hope that this would foster a greater awareness of the personal and collective responsibility to preserve the planet's "original harmony.