Pope Leo XIV inaugurated a special Mass for the Care of Creation in the gardens of Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday, July 9. The mass, attended by around 50 people involved in the environmental center Borgo Laudato Si’, was a mix of liturgical old and new, featuring key portions in the ancient language of Latin.
The pontiff prayed for more people to be converted from “the excesses of human life” and emphasized the importance of caring for creation. He also highlighted the indestructible alliance between Creator and creatures, mobilizing our intelligence and efforts to turn evil into good and injustice into justice.
The mass was likely the first use of the new Mass formulary, inspired by Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical Laudato Si’. The Borgo Laudato Si’ initiative aims to put into practice the principles for integral development outlined in the encyclical.
Pope Leo recited certain prayers in Latin during the mass, as they appear in the “typical edition” of the Roman Missal. This was not a problem, according to Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
The location chosen for the mass was significant, as it is a site where several pontiffs stopped to pray before. The pope reflected on the Gospel passage read at Mass, Jesus’ calming of the storm at sea, and said that the mission to protect creation is Christ’s own mission.
Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265265/pope-leo-xiv-celebrates-mass-for-creation-with-latin-prayers-in-castel-gandolfo-gardens