Above: Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the Care of Creation on the grounds of the pontifical gardens in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sept. 1, 2026. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
VATICAN CITY — The International Theological Commission has released a new document arguing that care for the environment is fundamentally a theological issue that reflects humanity’s relationship with God.
The text, “Caring for Our Common Home: A Responsible and Fraternal Response to the Triune God,” was published Sept. 2 and presents the ecological crisis through the lens of Catholic doctrine, emphasizing that creation bears the imprint of the Holy Trinity. According to Vatican News, the document states that “the ecological question is a theological question: the way we care for Creation reveals and shapes our relationship with God.”
The commission builds on the teachings of St. Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis on environmental stewardship, including Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’. It proposes a stronger understanding of ecological wrongdoing, describing environmental harm as a “sin against creation and against the Creator.”
The document is organized into three chapters. The first examines creation as the work of the Triune God, drawing on the writings of Augustine, Hildegard of Bingen, Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas. The second addresses humanity’s vocation as a steward rather than an exploiter of creation, while the third offers practical spiritual and ethical guidance for living more simply and responsibly.
Among its themes, the commission highlights the Eucharist as a “school” for ecological awareness, teaching gratitude, interdependence and care for creation rather than patterns of consumption and exploitation.
In the Diocese of Raleigh, Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama is expected to announce the diocese's participation in the Vatican-sponsored Laudato Si' Action Platform during a creation-themed Mass at 9 a.m. Oct. 11 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Raleigh. The event will include a reception, presentations on the diocesan action plan, student artwork, community participation and other activities highlighting Catholic environmental stewardship.
Read more from Vatican News: Care for Creation is a theological question