Pray for the care of creation
Pray for God's gift of creation, all people and creatures.
View of River Wear on a sunny day near Finchdale Priory on a CAFOD partner pilgrimage walk
Pope Francis has established 1 September as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, encouraging the Catholic community around the world to pray for our common home.
The day is inspired by Pope Francis' landmark encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls on "every person living on this planet" to care for our shared Earth.
The theme for 2023 is “Let Justice and Peace Flow”, inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” (Amos 5:24)
In his message for the World Day of Prayer 2023, Pope Francis invites us to "the renewal of our relationship with creation so that we no longer see it as an object to be exploited but cherish it instead as a sacred gift from our Creator."
As well as transforming our own hearts and lifestyles, the Holy Father calls us to seek to transform public policies and to "raise our voices to halt this injustice towards the poor and towards our children, who will bear the worst effects of climate change."
The Pope also stresses the importance of synodality with the hope that "in this Season of Creation, as followers of Christ on our shared synodal journey, let us live, work and pray that our common home will teem with life once again."
Read the full text of the Pope's message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
Season of Creation
This World Day of Prayer also falls at the beginning of the Season of Creation, which runs until 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi. This is an ecumenical season dedicated to prayer for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles.
How to respond to the World Day of Prayer
Individually
There are many ways to respond to Pope Francis’ call to care for the gift of God’s creation – why not take some time out of your day on 1 September to walk in your local park or take a few moments to thank God for the flowers growing in your garden?
You may wish to use our prayer resources on the care of creation.
You can also join us in praying the joyful mysteries of the rosary for the care of creation. Despite the challenges we face in caring for our common home, we are called to hope and joy and so we offer these reflections on the joyful mysteries to nourish our commitment to care for the Earth.
If you have young children, you may also like to explore our family prayer resources on the wonders of creation and our responsibility to nurture and protect it.
We also have a novena to Saint Francis of Assisi, which you could begin today, or you could pray it in the nine days leading up to Saint Francis' feast at the end of the Season of Creation. These beautiful prayers are based on Saint Francis' Canticle of the Sun and guide us to care for the Earth and our most vulnerable brothers and sisters.
The World Day of Prayer is another opportunity for us to connect with our creator God and allow the Lord to redefine our relationship with the environment: from one of consumption and control to one of care and protection.
In parishes or groups
You could celebrate Mass with a focus on the climate and care of creation. We have some Creationtide intercessions for that you may wish to use.
Or get together with others from your parish and reflect on the themes of Laudato Si'. This encyclical reminds us that we have a responsibility to our Earth, each other and to generations yet to come.
If you cannot mark the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation itself, you could use these resources at any time during the Season of Creation (1 September – 4 October 2022).
Family prayer ideas
Support your family's prayer life with our ideas and resources, suitable for all ages.