Pope Leo XIV urges global action for justice and environment

In a message released ahead of the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo XIV drew heavily from Pope Francis’ Laudato si’, reiterating the Church’s firm stance against environmental and social injustice. He emphasized that God’s creation was never meant to be a battleground for vital resources.

Set for September 1, this year’s observance is being prepared with deep reflection and urgency by the Catholic Church. Pope Leo urged Christians and all people of goodwill to confront the growing threats of climate change, inequality, and violent conflict, and to work collectively toward justice for both humanity and the planet.

Titled Seeds of Peace and Hope and issued on July 2, the Pope’s message aligns with the Jubilee Year theme of being “pilgrims of hope.” He called on the faithful to reclaim their responsibility as stewards of creation and to help restore a broken world.

Pope Leo encouraged a vision of global renewal, transforming what he described as today’s “arid and parched desert” into “a fruitful field.” This vision, he said, goes beyond poetic imagery—it is a concrete appeal to confront ecological and humanitarian emergencies with resolve and compassion.

“Injustice, violations of international law and the rights of peoples, grave inequalities, and the greed that fuels them are spawning deforestation, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity,” the Pope said, linking environmental destruction to systemic exploitation. “The disproportionate suffering of indigenous communities and the widening gap between rich and poor as hallmarks of a system that treats nature as a commodity rather than a common home,” he added, decrying the way nature is increasingly reduced to “a bargaining chip” in economic and political agendas.Pope Leo’s message serves as both a solemn warning and an invitation to reclaim hope, renew solidarity, and work together for a future where creation is cherished, not consumed. TRACY CABRERA