"In Christ we are seeds. Seeds of Peace and of Hope."
At the heart of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's message for the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is a powerful and timely proclamation: "our earth is falling into ruin." This is not a symbolic statement or a general moral appeal, but a concrete and urgent warning—a call to all people, believers and non-believers alike, to take shared responsibility for our planet. The prophetic image from the Book of Isaiah (Is 32:15–18), which describes the transformation of a barren desert into a lush garden—a place of peace and justice—is more relevant now than ever before.
In the central passage of the message, Pope Leo XIV clearly highlights the wounds inflicted upon our common home. In many regions of the world, environmental destruction has become a visible and undeniable emergency. But this is not just an ecological crisis—it is also a moral and spiritual one. Its roots lie in a web of systemic injustice: the violation of international law, growing economic inequality, resource hoarding by the few at the expense of the many, and a voracious greed that manifests at both individual and structural levels.
The Pope underscores how this dynamic fuels deforestation, air and water pollution, desertification, and the irreversible loss of biodiversity. These changes are not random or natural cycles; they are largely the result of human activity, particularly a dominant economic model that prioritizes short-term profit over the common good and the integrity of creation. As reaffirmed in the recent apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum, climate change is largely driven by human actions—especially industrial and agricultural practices that exploit the planet's resources without limits.
This observation is confirmed by scientific evidence: extreme weather events—such as prolonged droughts, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires—are becoming more frequent and intense. These are not isolated disasters, but part of a new "normal" that increasingly undermines life, especially for the most vulnerable populations. In many cases, the poor are forced to abandon their lands, victims of a new form of climate-induced migration that remains largely unrecognized and unprotected under international law.
Pope Leo XIV does not stop at a socio-political reading of the crisis but also reveals its spiritual dimension. The degradation of creation mirrors the degradation of the human conscience. Where greed and indifference reign, peace dies—and with it, hope. The reference to justice as the foundation of peace, taken from the prophet Isaiah, is deeply revealing: "The practice of justice will bring peace; the fruit of justice will be quietness and security forever." Without environmental justice, there can be no lasting peace; without a new lifestyle rooted in solidarity, simplicity, and respect for every creature, our civilization risks collapsing under the weight of its own irresponsibility.
Yet the message is not only one of denunciation—it is also a message of hope. In Christ, Pope Leo XIV says, "we are seeds." Not just seeds of a future life, but seeds of peace and hope in the here and now, amid this time of crisis. This means each person is called to take an active role in transforming the world. Like the seed that must die to bear fruit, men and women today are invited to move beyond selfishness in order to generate new life around them. The ecological conversion proposed by Pope Francis in Laudato Si' and reaffirmed in Laudate Deum is not an optional path for the few, but a necessary journey for the whole human family.
Within this path of integral conversion, prayer plays a central role—not as a passive act, but as a transformative force. To pray for creation means to enter into communion with God, Creator and Father, and to recognize that everything is interconnected. It means looking at the world not as an object to exploit, but as a sacred mystery to receive with gratitude. Above all, it means invoking the wisdom and courage to make concrete, even radical, choices—especially when those choices require sacrifice or significant change.
The vision offered by Isaiah—"My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest"—is not a distant or utopian dream. It is a prophetic call that can be realized if justice and righteousness once again take root among us. In this light, the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in 2025 stands as a pivotal moment in the Church's journey toward integral ecology. It renews the invitation to live with awareness and integrity, to adopt sustainable lifestyles, to educate new generations in the care of creation, and to support public policies that safeguard our common home.
Finally, Pope Leo XIV reminds us that we are not alone in this journey. The Spirit of God, "poured out from on high," is already at work, transforming the deserts of humanity into gardens of peace. But this transformation cannot happen without our daily "yes"—without our commitment to truly become seeds of justice, peace, and hope in the world. It is up to each one of us to decide whether we will remain passive spectators of a collapsing world, or become active participants in a new chapter of history—one that is more just, more fraternal, and more in harmony with all of creation.
Marco Baratto
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