by InTrieste
On September 3, the Giardino Pubblico Muzio de Tommasini in the center of Trieste will be transformed into what organizers call a “natural cathedral,” hosting an evening Mass dedicated to the Custody of Creation. The service, promoted by Bishop Enrico Trevisi, is part of the tenth anniversary celebrations of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, established by Pope Francis in 2015.
The liturgy falls within the broader Season of Creation, an ecumenical initiative running from September 1 to October 4, which this year carries the theme “Peace with Creation.” Rooted in Orthodox Christian tradition, the period encourages reflection on humanity’s relationship with the natural world and is observed by churches worldwide.
Bishop Trevisi said the Trieste Mass aims to bring those global themes to a local level, drawing inspiration from Pope Leo XIV, who in July celebrated a similar service at Castel Gandolfo. The Trieste ceremony will make use of the newly introduced liturgical text, Missa pro custodia creationis, released by the Vatican to mark the anniversary of Laudato si’, Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment and social justice.
The liturgy incorporates scriptural passages highlighting creation as a divine gift, with an opening drawn from the Psalms: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the firmament shows the work of his hands.” Theologians have described the Mass as a symbolic step, signaling a broader integration of environmental stewardship into the Catholic Church’s spiritual life.
The Giardino Pubblico was chosen deliberately, according to organizers, as a place where the surrounding trees and open sky become part of the service itself. “It is a particularly meaningful setting,” Bishop Trevisi said, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s call to recognize the beauty of worshiping in a “natural cathedral.”
The event in Trieste is one of several local observances this month. On September 18, the city’s Serbian Orthodox community will host an ecumenical prayer service at the Church of San Spiridione, centered on the theme “Seeds of Peace and Hope.”
Both events coincide with a wider push from church leaders to link prayer with action. In his message for the World Day of Prayer 2025, Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to see themselves as “seeds of peace and hope” while also committing to practical steps in environmental care.
The anniversary of Laudato si’ has underscored those themes, recalling Pope Francis’s appeal in 2015 for humanity to address climate change, inequality, and environmental degradation together. That encyclical, which embraced both ecological and social concerns, remains a touchstone for this year’s observances.
By holding the Mass in the city’s main public garden, Trieste is aligning itself with the Church’s broader call to integrate spirituality, ecology, and civic life. As Pope Leo XIV noted in his July homily, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “the desert shall become a garden” when justice and care for creation are given space to flourish.
