Pope Leo XIV Urges Ecological Conversion: “It Is Not Yet Too Late”

Pope Leo XIV Urges Ecological Conversion: “It Is Not Yet Too Late”

ByRaju Hasmukh
September 2, 2026

Pope Leo XIV (Credit Vatican Media)

Pope Leo XIV calls for ecological conversion, urging Christians to care for creation, aid the poor, and transform destruction into life.

News Room (September 2, 2026, Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV has called on Christians worldwide to embrace an “authentic ecological conversion,” urging believers to renew their commitment to caring for creation, supporting the poor, and restoring harmony within the natural world.


Speaking during a Mass for the Care of Creation in the Garden of the Madonnina del Borgo Laudato Si’, located within the Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope marked the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation by reflecting on humanity’s relationship with the environment and its Creator. His homily also inaugurated the annual Season of Creation, a five-week period dedicated to prayer, reflection, and action for the protection of the Earth.

Drawing from the liturgical readings, Pope Leo emphasized that creation itself serves as a pathway to God. Referencing the Book of Wisdom, he encouraged the faithful to move beyond simple admiration of nature’s beauty and power and instead recognize the Creator behind it.

He noted that natural phenomena such as fire, wind, flowing water, and the stars evoke wonder, but their deepest significance lies in pointing humanity toward God. Likewise, he highlighted Psalm 18, which proclaims that the heavens and the firmament reveal the glory and handiwork of the Creator.

The Pope also reflected on a passage from the Gospel of Matthew, which speaks of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. He said these examples reveal not only the beauty of creation but also God’s special concern for humanity. If God provides for plants and animals with such care, he explained, believers can trust in the divine attention given to human needs.

Set amid the natural surroundings of Castel Gandolfo’s gardens, the celebration underscored the Pope’s invitation to contemplation. He encouraged people to step back from the pace and noise of modern life in order to experience the harmony of creation more deeply.

According to Pope Leo, this practice of contemplation is not simply an appreciation of nature but the first step toward a profound spiritual transformation. He described it as an “authentic ecological conversion,” in which an encounter with Jesus Christ becomes evident in the way individuals relate to the world around them.

They're Trying To Unite All Religions… But There's One Problem

Tech billionaire Peter Thiel takes on popes, delves into end-times theology

Peter Thiel speaks with attendees at the 2022 Converge Tech Summit in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore)

by Brian Fraga

Staff Reporter

July 15, 2026

In the last two weeks, the billionaire venture tech capitalist Peter Thiel has accused Pope Leo XIV of being a Chinese communist agent and insinuated in the pages of a prominent interreligious journal that Pope Francis was an Antichrist figure.

Thiel, a co-founder of Palantir and PayPal who has risen to prominence as a conservative political activist, has articulated an apocalyptic worldview that he says is consistent with traditional Christian theology but that his critics say is more aligned with Cold War-era geopolitics.

His interest in end times theology was even lampooned in the recently completed 28th season of "South Park," where Thiel was portrayed as a biblical prophecy expert, equipped with his own theme song, who speaks on the end of days to an elementary school assembly.

Thiel's stated concerns that the Antichrist will be manifested by a one-world government or by Luddites who aim to stop or slow technological progress was a subtext in several provocative comments he made at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado on June 30.

As reported by CNN, Thiel delivered a series of dire warnings and predictions about the future of artificial intelligence and the West, even accusing Pope Leo XIV of inadvertently serving as a "Chinese communist agent" because of the pontiff's calls for AI to be regulated.

According to Thiel's logic, while Leo's recent encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica Humanitas, may influence American policymakers, it is unlikely that Chinese leaders will heed the document's warnings.

Thiel argued that the encyclical threatens to slow down only one side of the "race between the U.S. and China" to advance AI. Leo, Thiel surmised, is thus "working for the Chinese Communists." CNN reported that the Aspen audience responded with laughter.

While it garnered chuckles, Thiel's comments about Leo revealed a Cold War mentality taken to a new intense level, said Massimo Faggioli, a theologian and church historian at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

Pope Leo appoints Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly to Vatican dicastery

written by Courtney Mares 3:05 PM August 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV meets with Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly of the Knights of Columbus Oct. 6, 2025, during an audience with a Knights delegation at the Vatican. On Aug. 25, 2026, Pope Leo appointed Kelly as a member of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)


(OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 25 appointed the Knights of Columbus’ Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly as a member of the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.

Kelly has served as the supreme Knight and CEO of the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization since 2021. The Knights of Columbus have 2.1 million members throughout the world.

“I am deeply grateful to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for appointing me as a member of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life,” Kelly said following the Vatican’s announcement.

“Since our founding by Blessed Michael McGivney in 1882, the Knights of Columbus has been dedicated to strengthening Catholic laymen in the faith, to supporting Catholic family life and to building up a culture of life,” he added. “I look forward to supporting this vital work of the Catholic Church.”

As a member of the Vatican dicastery, Kelly will contribute to the dicastery’s mission of enhancing the apostolate of the lay faithful, the pastoral care of young people and the mission of the family according to God’s plan. The dicastery is also dedicated to the promotion and protection of life and the dignity of the elderly.

 
About 2 dozen serve as members of dicastery

About two dozen people, including cardinals, married lay couples and scholars from around the world, currently serve as members of the laity dicastery. Kelly will join fellow American members Helen Alvaré, lecturer at the George Mason University School of Law, and Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of Washington. The role does not require members to move to Rome.

Pope Francis established the dicastery in 2016, combining the responsibilities of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, the former bishop of Dallas, has served as the prefect of the dicastery since its founding.

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life plays a key role in organizing World Youth Day, the next which is scheduled to take place in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 3-8, 2027. The dicastery also organizes the World Meeting of Families and the annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

The Vatican Foreign Minister in Russia: "This War Must End"

 

Pastoral Visit to Republic of San Marino: Arrival of Pope Leo XIV and Welcome Ceremony

The Vatican isn’t a campaign stop and Rep. Salazar shouldn’t have treated it as one | Opinion

Mary Anna Mancuso

Wed, August 19, 2026 at 3:08 PM EDT

As a Catholic, I'm offended. As a Floridian, I'm exhausted. It seems there are no lengths to which U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Miami Republican, won't go to promote her immigration bill.

Even the pope isn't off limits. Last week, after meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, she quickly took to social media to say she was grateful to "place the DIGNITY Act in the Holy Father's hands." The video posted to her social media channels, shot in front of the Vatican, was in poor taste. What I saw was a South Florida congresswoman using the Vatican as a backdrop to push her legislation.

You don't have to be Catholic to understand why it's offensive. It looks like Salazar used her meeting with the pope to create the impression of support for her legislation. That should bother anyone, religious or not.

The meeting itself wasn't a problem. There's nothing wrong with an elected official discussing immigration with the pope. Immigration is both a moral and political issue that affects millions, and people of faith often bring their convictions into public life.

Leo has spoken directly on immigration. On June 25, 2026, the pope wrote a letter to America marking the 250th anniversary of the United States: "To receive [immigrants] with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person," he wrote.

Many politicians have visited the Vatican and afterward have posted photos of their time with the pope. I don't think that's wrong. The difference is that Salazar used the opportunity to spotlight her legislation. The pope hasn't endorsed her bill; she shouldn't be trying to make it look that way.

But in politics, optics matter. And that was the point. Salazar, in what appeared to be a staged moment, created an impression the facts don't support.

Salazar's office told me it was "entirely appropriate to discuss immigration and the bipartisan work she is leading" during the visit. The statement from her office said Salazar spoke with the pope "about immigration and the dignity of migrants, issues that are central to the Catholic Church and that Pope Leo himself has made a priority, and shared with him the bipartisan solution she has been working on for years."

Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) spoke with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Aug. 13, 2026

Matthew McConaughey drops new hint about politics after meeting Pope Leo XIV Story by Eren Waris

Story by Eren Waris

Matthew McConaughey drops new hint about politics after meeting Pope Leo XIV

Matthew McConaughey drops new hint about politics after meeting Pope Leo XIV

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Actor Matthew McConaughey said he could see himself “adding to or working on” a constitution built around common ground among religions.

McConaughey, who calls himself an aggressively centrist Christian, has previously been asked about running for office, including governor of his home state.

The comments came in a USA TODAY interview, published on Saturday, August 15, after his meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City.

Actors Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey speak onstage at Nokia Theatre LA Live on August 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Matthew McConaughey says religion could inform politics

McConaughey said he sees common ground among religions as something that could inform a political system.

“There’s still a constitution out there to be written that all religions could agree on,” he told USA TODAY. “There's so much commonality.”

He said he was interested in the possibility of “adding to or working on” such a constitution, calling it “a great thing to share.”

Pope Leo XIV waves as he leaves after his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square at The Vatican, Wednesday, June 3, 2026 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

McConaughey also drew a line between religious teachings and the separation of church and state.

“Even though I agree with the separation of church and state, the values of those should bleed down into the values of any political system,” he said.

Matthew McConaughey Meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

Matthew McConaughey Meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

TODAY

Aug 6, 2026

Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves, were greeted by Pope Leo XIV during his weekly general audience at St. Peter’s Basilica. Cameras captured the trio briefly chatting during their time together. 

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Matthew McConaughey Compares Meeting Pope Leo XIV to Writing an Oscars Speech | The Tonight Show

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Aug 13, 2026
Matthew McConaughey talks about meeting Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, getting a movie theater named after him and filming his new movie The Rivals of Amziah King.

The Pope calls for protection and welcome for migrant and refugee minors: "Every child possesses infinite dignity"

The Pope calls for protection and welcome for migrant and refugee minors: "Every child possesses infinite dignity"

GRAFCAN5123. LA LAGUNA (TENERIFE), 12/06/2026.- El papa León XIV saluda a varios niños durante su visita este viernes al centro de primera acogida 'Las Raíces' de Tenerife. EFE/ Ramón De La Rocha

by INFOVATICANA | August 14, 2026


Pope Leo XIV has focused his message for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on migrant and refugee minors, which the Church will celebrate on September 27 under the theme “Even one of these little ones.” The Pontiff warns of the special vulnerability of children affected by war, poverty, violence, trafficking, exploitation, and forced displacement, and calls for action both in countries of origin, to combat the causes that force them to leave, and in transit and destination countries, where he urges the guarantee of their protection and welcome.

In the message, dated August 11 and published this Friday by the Holy See, Leo XIV insists that “every child, every human being, possesses infinite dignity” and urges Christian communities to integrate migrants and refugees “as full members of the ecclesial family.” The Pope also calls on civil institutions to promote family reunification and avoid traumatic separations, and maintains that the debate must shift from “the mere management of migratory flows” to the protection of human rights. Among the fundamental rights of minors, he explicitly mentions “life, education, and a standard of living that allows them to grow and develop fully.”

Below is the full message of Leo XIV:

Dear brothers and sisters:

Year after year, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees invites us to focus our attention on different aspects of the complex migratory phenomenon. In this 112th World Day, the theme “Even one of these little ones” calls us to pay attention to minors directly affected by the experience of migration and flight, to concern for them, and to the Lord’s promise that whoever “welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (Mk 9:37).

Pope Leo hat giveaway turns White Sox game into the church of baseball

CHICAGO (RNS) — After three terrible years, the White Sox are in the midst of a revival — with good young players and perhaps a little divine intervention. The team's best-known fan is Pope Leo XIV.

White Sox fans cheer while wearing Pope hats during "Pope Night," Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in Chicago. (Photo courtesy of the Chicago White Sox)

Bob Smietana

August 12, 2026 at 1:17 p.m. ET

CHICAGO (RNS) — On a hot August night on the South Side of Chicago, Rate Field, home of the White Sox, turned into a church of baseball, filled to capacity with true believers who sang, passed the peace, cheered on a celebrity nun and, of course, wore their pope hats.

Those hats, emblazoned with the Sox logo, were given to every fan who entered the park on Tuesday (Aug. 11). It was, according to team officials, the biggest promotional giveaway in White Sox history, with more than 40,000 pope hats given away. The night was a testimony to the resurgent White Sox, who appear to be playoff-bound after three years of losing 100 games a season, as well as to the appeal of Pope Leo XIV, a longtime fan of the team and Chicago native.

“It doesn’t matter your religion or your denomination,” said Brooks Boyer, chief revenue and marketing officer for the White Sox. “Everyone respects the pope. For us, it’s obviously fun that he is a White Sox fan.”

As soon as the gate opened, the park was flooded with fans, young and old, some with jerseys with the pope’s name on the back, many already wearing their pope hats. They stood in line for hot dogs or beers, where some greeted Sister Mary Jo Sobieck of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, who was grabbing a hot dog before throwing out the first pitch.

Jaime Garcia and his wife were decked out in Sox garb and their new pope hats. Garcia, who is from the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago’s southwest side, grew up both Catholic and a Sox fan. He got off work early to get to the game.

Jaime Garcia attends the White Sox’s “Pope Night,” Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in Chicago. (RNS photo/Bob Smietana)

“Got to get the hat,” he said. “Got to represent.”

Pope Leo says his ancestors were both ‘slaves and slave owners’

Pope Leo XIV has delved into his family history, revealing his ancestry included both enslaved people and slave owners.

“I come from a family that my grandparents were immigrants,” the first American pontiff told NBC news in the Vatican Gardens of Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday. “On my mother’s side, we have people who were both slaves and slave owners.”

Leo spoke about his family’s historical links to the transatlantic slave trade on Wednesday in response to a reporter’s question about his American heritage.

Asked what he loves about his homeland, the pope also said he highly values the United States’ “sense of freedom, the sense of opportunity” and “of having invited for generations people from around the world to be part of America.”

The importance of welcoming new arrivals is a message the Chicago-born pope has repeatedly sent to the US, as he has criticized the “inhuman” treatment of immigrants during the Trump administration’s crackdown.

Pope Leo's Three Urgent Appeals in One Angelus

 Pope Leo's Three Urgent Appeals in One Angelus

ROME REPORTS in English

Jul 27, 2026 

Nearing the end of his summer vacation, Pope Leo XIV continues to draw thousands of pilgrims to pray the Angelus.

This Sunday, the Pope cautioned that a culture of consumerism fuels endless desires that are never satisfied, making it harder to recognize what truly matters.

Pope appoints new Holy See Permanent Observer to UN in New York

Archbishop Christophe El-Kassis
Vatican

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis as the Holy See's new Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York, where he will represent the Holy See at the UN headquarters.


Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis as the Holy See's new Permanent Observer to the United Nations (UN) in New York.

The appointment was announced on Saturday by the Holy See Press Office.

Lebanese-born Archbishop El-Kassis, Titular Archbishop of Roselle, has until now served as Apostolic Nuncio to the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, as well as Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula.

He was ordained in 1994, and he entered the Holy See diplomatic service in 2000, working in Indonesia, Sudan, Turkey, and the Secretariat of State.

The Holy See maintains Permanent Observer status at the United Nations, enabling it to participate in the work of the General Assembly and other UN bodies.

Source

MOMENTS: Pope Leo Shares Lunch With Vulnerable People, Says He Came With 'Hunger for Justice'

 

Ancestry Discovers Pope Leo XIV’s Sicilian Roots

Ancestry Discovers Pope Leo XIV’s Sicilian Roots

Kelly Barbano-Bodami - Research Manager, Ancestry ProGenealogists | Kyle J. Betit - Sr. Genealogist, Ancestry ProGenealogists | Lisa Elzey - Sr. Story Producer, Ancestry

15 May 2025

Key Takeaways

• Pope Leo XIV’s paternal line traces to Milazzo, Sicily, where his grandfather was born Salvatore Giovanni Gaetano Riggitano.
• An Alien Registration record revealed his grandfather’s original name, birthplace, and that he never naturalized as a U.S. citizen.
• His Sicilian ancestors were lower-middle to middle-class, holding respected community positions like `Usciere comunale` and `trafficante` (merchant).

As the white smoke cleared and a new Pontiff emerged, questions about his family history echoed across the globe. Where did his ancestors walk? What stories shaped his lineage? Now, through meticulous research, Ancestry has uncovered compelling documents that trace the paternal line of Robert Prevost, now known to the world as Pope Leo XIV.

 
Finding the True Origins of the Pope’s Grandfather, John R. Prevost

With the announcement of the first-ever United States-born Pope, professional genealogists at Ancestry began the search that included a path of twists and turns, unexpected name changes, and, ultimately, the answers. We started with the 1950 United States Census, the most recent census record collection available and identified John R. Prevost, the grandfather of Pope Leo XIV, listed as a “Romance Language Teacher” in Chicago, Illinois, living at 5465 Ellis Ave., (remember this clue) with his wife, Suzanne L. Prevost, and his son, John C. Prevost.

1950 United States Federal Census - John R. Prevost

We were unable to locate many records in the United States before 1950 for John Prevost, outside of some city directories. A prominent clue was that John Prevost’s death certificate stated that he was a citizen of Italy – indicating that he never naturalized as a United States citizen. Through the National Archives Flexoline Database, we located an Alien Registration record, under the name John R. Prevost, born 1876 in Italy, residing in Chicago in 1940. Alien Registration began in 1940 for anyone who was a foreign national and had not naturalized as a United States citizen.

According to the Alien Registration, dated 24 September 1940, John Riggitano Prevost arrived in the United States at New York in May 1905 on the SS Perugia. Surprisingly, John gave his name on his alien registration at arrival as Salvatore Giovanni Riggitano Alioto (Giovanni is the Italian equivalent of the English name John). His birthplace was listed as Milazzo, Province of Messina, Italy, and he was born on 24 June 1876 – an exact match to the date of birth listed on John R. Prevost’s death certificate.

Alien Registration Form (AR-2) for John Riggitano Prevost; National Archives

The address on the Alien Registration—5465 Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois—also matches the address on the 1950 census (did you remember this clue?) and the address on the World War II Draft Card for Pope Leo XIV’s father, Louis Marius Prevost.

United States World War II Draft Registration Card - Louis M. Prevost

Fit for a pontiff: How the US Embassy to the Holy See prepared to host Pope Leo for a special July 4 celebration

The evening marked a historic visit to the U.S. ambassador’s residence as the country celebrates its 250th anniversary.

McKenna Snow

July 7, 2026

When Pope Leo XIV accepted an invitation from the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See to celebrate the Fourth of July with a special dinner, a significant amount of effort went into making the occasion impeccable and memorable.

The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See posted a video to social media this week offering a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations that took place ahead of the July 4 occasion, saying dedicated teamwork was required.

“Hosting a July 4th dinner for the Holy Father doesn't happen by accident,” the embassy stated. “Behind every perfectly set table, every carefully prepared dish, and every seamless moment of the evening stood a dedicated team at Villa Richardson who spent weeks planning, preparing, and perfecting every detail. A huge thanks to our wonderful team!”

U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch and his family welcomed Pope Leo the afternoon of July 4 at the ambassador’s residence in Rome, as Zeale News reported that day with exclusive comments from Burch.

>> Exclusive | Pope Leo XIV marks Fourth of July with historic visit to US ambassador’s residence in Rome <<

Leo urges US to welcome immigrants in July 4 appeal

Peter Thiel Accuses Pope Leo of Serving as Chinese Communist Agent on AI

Nordin Catic/Getty Images for The Cambridge Union

Lucas Nolan

3 Jul 2026

Billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel launched a series of controversial criticisms and predictions about AI and Western democracy during remarks at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado on Tuesday. In his most provocative statement, Thiel accused Pope Leo XIV of serving the interests of China with his stance on AI.

CNN reports that Thiel, co-founder of Palantir and PayPal and an early Silicon Valley supporter of President Donald Trump, accused Pope Leo of inadvertently functioning as a Chinese communist agent by advocating for AI regulation. He also warned of what he described as an impending democratic-socialist takeover of the United States Democratic Party.

The tech investor delivered his remarks during a nonrecorded panel alongside political scientist Francis Fukuyama. During the event, Thiel specifically targeted the Vatican and Pope Leo, the first American pope, claiming he was unintentionally advancing Chinese interests by advocating for stronger international oversight of AI. Breitbart News previously reported that in May, Pope Leo issued his first encyclical titled “Magnifica Humanitas” or “Magnificent Humanity,” declaring that artificial intelligence “must be disarmed” and calling for greater international regulation of the technology:

Pope Leo frequently returns to the theme of uniformity versus communion, stressing that the quest for uniformity is sterile, mechanistic, and prone to tyrannical abuse, while communion is voluntary and joyous, bringing people together with each other and God. The encyclical asserts that, while AI might become smarter than any one of us, it will never be able to match the unexpected and delightful achievements of all of us — the unpredictable genius of magnificent humanity.

The pope’s Tower of Babel analogy draws parallels between the development of AI and the construction of the ancient Tower of Babel, “an impressive feat” constructed with “a single language, a single technology, a single direction.”

Pope Leo Jabs Trump in 250th Birthday Message to Americans

HEAVENLY SHADE

The first U.S.-born pope congratulated Americans while stressing the importance of welcoming immigrants.

Antonio Masiello/Getty Images

Tomas Thor

Breaking News Intern
Updated Jul. 3 2026 6:54PM EDT Published Jul. 3 2026 3:02PM EDT


Pope Leo XIV used America’s 250th birthday celebration to deliver a not-so-subtle reminder to President Donald Trump that immigrants helped build the United States.

In a message released Friday, the first American-born pope praised the nation’s founding ideals of liberty, equality, and democracy. But he also devoted a significant portion of the letter to defending immigrants, a subject that has become one of the sharpest points of tension between the Vatican and the Trump administration.

ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images

“Defending human life also includes welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants,” Leo wrote.

“In every generation, those who have arrived seeking freedom, opportunity and a place to belong have helped to shape the nation’s character.”

His pointed message comes as Trump continues to make his immigration crackdown a centerpiece of his second term.

The pontiff’s message repeatedly returned to themes that have put him at odds with the White House, including the dignity of migrants and the responsibility to care for society’s most vulnerable.

“To receive them with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity,” Leo wrote of immigrants, “but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person.”

The letter highlights the growing divide between Pope Leo and the Trump administration. Last month, Leo criticized policies that remove migrants without addressing why they fled their home countries in the first place.