God’s Creation is Not a Battleground – Pope Leo XIV Issues Warning Ahead of Creation Day
Vatican City — In a powerful message ahead of the Tenth World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1, 2025, Pope Leo XIV has called on humanity to reject the exploitation of nature and embrace a renewed covenant with God’s creation.
Titled “Seeds of Peace and Hope”, the message aligns with the Jubilee Year’s theme of pilgrimage and renewal. Quoting Isaiah, the Pope described a vision of a transformed Earth — “a fruitful field” where justice and peace flourish.
He warned, however, that this vision remains out of reach as long as creation is treated as a battleground for resources and profit. “From deforestation to poisoned rivers, to agricultural fields littered with landmines, the Earth bears the wounds of human sin,” he lamented.
Pope Leo reiterated Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ as a foundational document, affirming that environmental justice is not optional for believers but “a duty born of faith.”
He urged the faithful to see creation as a reflection of Christ: “The universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed.”
Calling for patient, cooperative, and loving action, the Pope cited the Borgo Laudato Si’ project as a sign of how education, faith, and community can together build a more just and hopeful world.
Concluding with a heartfelt prayer, Pope Leo XIV invoked the Holy Spirit to guide humanity in healing a wounded planet and sowing seeds of justice that will bear lasting fruit.
