Pope Leo XIV Releases Message for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

In his 2026 message released on the occasion of the 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the deep connection between wars, ecological destruction, and the corruption within the human heart.

A Call for Creation and Peace

The message released for the 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, celebrated by the Church, recalled that Jesus Christ came to offer humanity life in abundance. Protecting the gift of life and valuing the earth were described as concrete ways of giving thanks to the Creator.

War and Ecological Devastation

It was stated that the crises and human sufferings experienced today are directly linked to one another. It was noted that wars do not remain confined to battlefields, but tear families apart, force millions to migrate, and destroy ecosystems, leading to social and ecological devastation that lasts for generations.

The Condition of the Human Heart

It was emphasized that conflicts and ecological degradation in the world are external expressions of the internal divisions within the human heart. It was noted that deserts in the external world expand with the growth of desolation in the inner world, and that the heart must be renewed.

Transformation and Civilization

It was stated that a true ecological conversion is possible only through personal and collective renewal by divine grace, beyond external changes. It was emphasized that instead of weapons, the tools of truth, dialogue, justice, mercy, and love must be utilized.