By Laudato Voices. On July 9, 2025, A historical day in life the church but also for us as young environmental promoters who believe in intergal ecology. Pope Leo XIV celebrated the inaugural Mass for the Care of Creation in the open air gardens of the Borgo Laudato Si’ a “natural cathedral” nestled within Castel Gandolfo’s papal summer estate. Conceived as an ecological laboratory, this “Laudato Si’ Village” was founded by Pope Francis in 2023 to enhance the principles of integral ecology, combining sustainability, education, and social justice. In his homily click here

Today we saw it become the first ‘natural church’ for the care for creation liturgy. This Mass, using a newly approved formulary dedicated to creation care, is the 50th special-intention Mass added to the Roman Missal. Celebrated privately by the Holy Father with staff at the Borgo, it was marked by green vestments, which potrayed beautiful theme colors of the Laudato Youth Initiative. Thanks to the designer. We know earth prayers, and poignant reflections on humanity’s ecological responsibility are an act of faith and hope for God’s creation and so we see this feast as one that will enhance our role in enhancing the work of care for creation in many ways.

Pope Leo emphasized that the Eucharist “gives meaning to and sustains our work”, care for creation is integral to Christian mission. He encouraged Catholics to see caring for the environment not as peripheral, but as central to justice, charity, and faith: “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are one”  His words invite us to re consider our attitudes and take action to help those in need and those affected by climate change. A point which has remained a big focus for us in the Laudato Youth Initiative.

By situating the Mass outdoors, amidst trees, flowers, and wildlife, he reinforced the theology that creation is sacred, a gift and a partner in worship. The Borgo models this harmony: its working farm produces sustainable food, educational programs engage diverse communities including the marginalized and its land establishes a circular ecological ethos we believe that nature can connect us to God and know many people can receive healing and reconciliation sacred places like natural gardens ‘reconciliation gardens’ Our last Mass at St. Adolf Kayabachope was held in an open air reconciliation garden it allowed us to reflect and think of the importance of caring for creation.

This event follows the Vatican’s approval on July 3, 2025, of the new “Mass for the Care of Creation” formulary a liturgical response to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ encyclical. Pope Leo XIV officially introduced this rite at a Vatican press conference, insisting it should animate prayer, policy, and everyday choices we make this is going to unite the church in action and prayer.

Just weeks earlier, Pope Leo released a message for the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, titled “Seeds of Peace and Hope,” invoking Isaiah’s imagery to link ecological renewal with social justice and peace. He affirmed that initiatives like Borgo Laudato Si’ a “laboratory where we live that harmony with creation” are seeds bearing fruit for generations. Everyday through our work we envision growing in solidarity to unite young people for climate action that will build a kingdom of Justice and peace and form care takers of mother earth and stewards of the future.

This Mass and the thematic momentum of Leo XIV’s pontificate resonate deeply with the Laudato Youth Initiative translating Laudato Si’ into grassroots ecological action  and uniting young people to uphold Pope Francis; ecological legacy as stewards of the future

Pope Leo’s “green” Mass emphasized that Catholic worship is spiritual, guided by the Holy Spirit who helps us to recognize Jesus’ presence in what we do through standing with those in need and praising the God the creator for the gift of life and creation  it actively calls us to ecological stewardship, mirroring the our Initiative’s mission to unify prayer and environmental action.

The Borgo exists as a living classroom for sustainability echoed by our Laudato Si clubs that engage in young people right from grassroots, to become climate resilient through climate-smart farming, plastic recycling, and ecological storytelling, planting trees etc.

A Clarion Call for Youth, s Pope Leo proclaimed, caring for creation is now our mission. As Young leaders we are pivotal in sowing seeds of justice, peace, and hope, supported by the Laudato Si’ Action Platform we will now take on our active role and enhance our Season of Creation activities. Since 2022 we have been conducting green Masses in various places this comes to us as a double bless because our next Mass is on July 19th at Holy Cross Lake View.

As we prepare for our upcoming Laudato Si Mass on July 19th, Pope Leo XIV’s celebration offers a rich blueprint to enhance our open air masses where

• Carefully Choose Outdoor natural setting, reflecting our bond with creation.

• Prayer: Integrating the new formulary’s ecological intentions.

• Community: Gathering not only our club but also, but communities of young environmentalists and ecological educators.

• Our mission is translating worship into action Uniting Young People for Climate Action, peace, sustainable practice, social justice.

In this spirit, our Laudato Si Mass becomes more than ritual it is a call to ecological conversion, a collective step toward healing our planet and each other.

Pope Leo XIV’s first Mass for creation, set in an outdoor “natural cathedral,” reinforces that the Eucharist sustains our ecological mission. It aligns perfectly with and energizes the Laudato Youth Initiative, where prayer blossoms into action, faith empowers ecological innovation, and young voices become agents of lasting environmental transformation. We pray that God gives us the grace to unite prayer and purpose, worship and witness, heart and habitat. Let our small hand make big lasting footprints.