Season of Creation builds on growing momentum in the Church

Vatican letter invites the faithful to participate

We have just concluded Laudato Si’ Week, which has launched the Special Laudato Si’ Anniversary Year with several initiatives, including the Season of Creation.

Msgr. Bruno-Marie Duffé, Secretary of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, has just published a letter inviting Catholics around the world to participate in the Season of Creation. The letter warmly invites the Church to “join the ecumenical family in celebrating the Season of Creation, the annual celebration that takes place from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation, to October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.”

The Season of Creation is an annual event that encourages prayer and action for our common home. In recent years, thousands of Catholics on six continents have organised local activities to celebrate the Season of Creation. In 2019, Pope Francis issued the first-ever papal statement on the season.

The celebration of the Season of Creation is especially relevant this year, in the light of the coronavirus pandemic. The Dicastery for Integral Human Development is currently engaged in work to develop a comprehensive response to the pandemic, addressing both the immediate needs of those who suffer today and the long-term need to create more just societies. As Pope Francis said during his General Audience of 22 April 2020, on the fiftieth Earth Day: “As the tragic coronavirus pandemic has taught us, we can overcome global challenges only by showing solidarity with one another and embracing the most vulnerable in our midst”.

The Season of Creation is coordinated by an ecumenical steering committee. More information can be found at SeasonofCreation.org.

Notes to editors:

A 60-second video featuring excerpts from Pope Francis’ statement is available in Youtube and downloadable version here.

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