杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV鈥檚 prayer intention for September 2025 is for 鈥渙ur relationship with all of creation.

In this month鈥檚 杏MAP导航 Video, the Holy Father invites us to pray that 鈥渋nspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.鈥�

The prayer that follows emphasizes God鈥檚 love for all of creation, noting that 鈥渘othing exists outside鈥� of His 鈥渢enderness鈥� and recalling God鈥檚 care for 鈥渆ven the simplest or shortest life.鈥� 鈥淟ike St Francis of Assisi, today we too want to say, 鈥楶raised be You, my Lord鈥� 鈥� alluding, too, to 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� landmark encyclical on the care of creation which begins with those very words.

杏MAP导航 Leo鈥檚 prayer goes on speak of 鈥渢he beauty of creation鈥� as a revelation of God 鈥渁s the source of goodness,鈥� and asks Him to 鈥渙pen our eyes to recognize you, learning from the mystery of your closeness to all creation that the world is infinitely more than a problem to solve.鈥� Instead, the 杏MAP导航 says, 鈥淚t is a mystery to be contemplated with gratitude.鈥�

The Holy Father concludes his prayer with a plea to God to 鈥渉elp us discover Your presence in all creation, so that, in fully recognizing it, we may feel and know ourselves to be responsible for our common home where You invite us to care for, respect, and protect life in all its forms and possibilities.鈥�

Living a moment of gratitude

In a press release accompanying the prayer, the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 Worldwide Prayer Network 鈥� which is responsible for preparing each month鈥檚 intention 鈥� notes that 鈥渢he video comes out within the context of the Season of Creation, an ecumenical period from September 1 to October 4 (the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) that unites Christians from various denominations in prayer and action for the care of the earth.鈥�

This year鈥檚 Season of Creation takes place as the Church marks both the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis鈥� 鈥淐anticle of Creation鈥� and the 10th anniversary of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� encyclical Laudato sí.

鈥淭he Jubilee of Hope and the 10th anniversary of the Encyclical Laudato Si鈥� invite us to live a moment of gratitude, commitment to and care for our common home,鈥� says Cardinal Michael Czerny, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Development, which supported the production of this month鈥檚 杏MAP导航 Video.

An interconnected world

Commenting on this month鈥檚 intention, the International Director of the Prayer Netword, Father Cristóbal Fones, S.J., explains that this month鈥檚 prayer intention 鈥渞eminds us how interconnected our world is. Our well-being cannot be separated from other creatures living on earth, or from the 鈥榮tate of health鈥� of our planet.鈥�

鈥淭his month,鈥� Father Fones continues, 鈥渢he 杏MAP导航 invites us to reflect on how our actions affect nature, God鈥檚 work, and to seek ways of living that foster the restoration and natural balance and harmony between human beings and the environment. In the midst of such a competitive, hectic world, dominated by consumerism, a large part of humanity deeply longs to live well, closer to and more respectful of nature 鈥� a style of life that would allow us to contemplate it in an attentive silence that leads to an encounter with ourselves, with God and with others.鈥�