Holy Father Designates September 1 as "World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation"

In a letter to Cardinals Turkson and Koch, heads of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Pope Francis expressed his desire to institute the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, a day specifically set aside to ask God's blessings on, and offer thanks for, our "common home."

"I wish to inform you that I have decided to set up also in the Catholic Church, the 'World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation' which, beginning this year, will be celebrated on the 1st of September, as the Orthodox Church has done for some time now."

The Holy Father also invoked the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, and St. Francis of Assisi, who is well known throughout the world for his special relationship with the earth and its creatures.