Pope Leo XIV Calls for Global “Creation Day” Unity and Demands End to “Pandemic of Arms”

VATICAN CITY, September 1, 2025 - On the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo XIV urged Christians worldwide to unite in safeguarding the environment and decried the proliferation of weapons as a “pandemic” that must end.

In his Angelus address today, the Holy Father reminded the faithful that this observance, instituted by Pope Francis ten years ago, commemorates an ancient Orthodox tradition of honoring Creation and falls on September 1 to mark the start of the ecumenical Season of Creation through October 4. Under the theme “Seeds of Peace and Hope,” the Pope called on all Christians to cultivate prayer, concrete actions, and a renewed sense of stewardship to protect the planet entrusted to humanity.

Later in the day, during a Mass observed in Vatican Media’s live broadcast, Pope Leo XIV led prayers for the victims of a recent school shooting in Minnesota and denounced the “pandemic of arms, large and small” that fuels violence around the globe. He implored governments and communities to work tirelessly to halt the spread of weaponry and to defend the most vulnerable, particularly children, from the devastating consequences of armed conflict and gun violence.