FAITH MATTERS
Care of Creation: Papal Mass at Castel Gandolfo a reminder of humanity’s connection to God and planet
“Only a contemplative gaze can change our relationship with creation and bring us out of the ecological crisis brought on by the breakdown of our relationship with God,” said Pope Leo.
July 19, 2025
By Bishop Gerard Bergie
Contributing Columnist
We are in the midst of summer, a time associated with relaxation and recreation.
Traditionally, it is a time when many people take holidays.
Even Pope Leo has decided to revive a papal custom and will be spending his summer holidays at Castel Gandolfo in Italy. Pope Francis had preferred to spend his summers in Rome.
Castel Gandolfo is a small town, approximately 25 kilometres from Rome, situated in the Albano Hills next to Lake Albano. The Apostolic Palace has served as the summer residence and vacation retreat for popes since 1626.
Shortly after arriving in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo celebrated a special mass and, for the first time, used the prayers of the Mass for the Care of Creation. It was celebrated in a beautiful outdoor chapel garden.
This Care of Creation Mass was composed to mark the 10th anniversary of “Laudato Si’,” the ecological encyclical of Pope Francis, and Pope Leo was the first one to publicly celebrate this Mass on July 9 at Castel Gandolfo.
The Mass has specific prayers and scripture readings that recognize the need to care for God’s creation and our responsibility to be good stewards of the earth.
The gospel for this Mass is from the Gospel of Matthew. It is the account of Jesus calming the storm at sea. The frightened apostles look to Jesus and are amazed that the “winds and the sea obey him.” (Matthew 8:27)
In his opening remarks for this Mass, Pope Leo acknowledged the many natural disasters we see in our world. He acknowledged that a contributing factor to extreme weather is the excesses of human beings and our lifestyles.
Pope Leo highlighted the fact the world is “in flames” due to global warming and armed conflicts; however, in the midst of all this turmoil, we need to need to turn to Christ for ongoing conversion.
In his homily for the mass he states, “We can imagine ourselves in the gospel we have just heard, as we reflect on the fear of the disciples amid the tempest, a fear shared by a large part of humanity today."
“At the same time, in the heart of this Jubilee Year, we believe and say over and over again: there is hope! We have encountered that hope in Jesus. He calms the storm. His power does not break down, but builds up. It does not destroy, but calls into being and bestows new life.” (Mass of Creation, July 9)
Pope Leo reminds us that despite the extremes we see in weather, politics, the economy, and life in general, we have hope because the Lord is with us “in the boat.” So much of this can be attributed to the breakdown of relationships with God, each other, and creation.
Greed, selfishness and a relentless quest for power divides rather than unites people and communities. God helps to rise us above our human weakness and shows us how to strengthen relationships through love.
At the end of his homily, Pope Leo emphasizes this point, “With infinite love, God has created all things and given them life. That is why Saint Francis of Assisi could call every creature his brother, his sister and his mother. Only a contemplative gaze can change our relationship with creation and bring us out of the ecological crisis brought on by the breakdown of our relationship with God, with our neighbours and with the earth that is the effect of sin.”
During our summer holidays, let us take some time to reflect upon our relationship with God’s beautiful creation.