Praying the world halts climate change? There's now a Catholic Mass for that

FILE PHOTO: Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Mass on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles in St Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican June 29, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -A new rite published by the Vatican on Thursday will allow priests to celebrate a Mass to exhort Catholics to exercise care for the Earth, in the latest push by the 1.4-billion-member global Church to address global climate change.

For centuries, Catholic priests have been able to celebrate special Masses to pray for their country, give thanks after a harvest or ask God to end a natural disaster.