Pope Leo XIV prayer intention and the Season of Creation
Written By OSV News
Pope Leo XIV prayer intention for September is ‘for the care of water’ as Christians celebrate the Season of Creation.
‘We see with pain so many brothers and sisters who lack clean water, who walk for miles to find it, who become ill due to its scarcity,’ the Pope said in his monthly video.
UN agencies reported in 2025 that around 2.1 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 106 million rely exclusively on rivers, lakes, or other untreated surface water.
In his prayer for the month of September, Pope Leo asked the Holy Spirit to guide Christians to denounce waste and pollution and to defend ‘the right of every brother and sister to drink without fear and without inequality.’
‘Forgive us for turning it into a commodity, forgetting that it is a universal gift, a right without borders, meant for all your children,’ he prayed.
Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention and the Season of Creation
The pope’s prayer intention comes as Christians around the world celebrate the Season of Creation from 1 September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, until 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi.
A source of fruitfulness, freshness, and hope.
This year’s theme is ‘Living Water,’ recalling the growing scarcity of fresh water and the inequality of access to it.
Why water is central to Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention
Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention places the care of water within the Christian call to care for creation and for those most affected by its scarcity. The September intention draws attention to people who lack access to clean and safe drinking water, while also encouraging Christians to consider how they use and protect this essential resource.
The Pope’s message connects the practical responsibility to conserve water with its deeper spiritual meaning. In the Christian tradition, water is closely associated with Baptism and new life. Pope Leo reflected on water as a sign of God’s grace and love, while calling Christians to ensure that access to water is not marked by inequality.
The Season of Creation provides a particular opportunity for Catholics and other Christians to reflect on this responsibility. From 1 September to 4 October, communities around the world are encouraged to pray and act for the care of creation and the protection of the environment.
Pope Leo XIV prayer intention: a call to care for water
Pope Leo’s prayer intention is also a call to personal action to consume water responsibly and moderately, according to the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which is encouraging people to do what they can – for example take shorter showers, fix leaks, turn off taps not in use, and to avoid polluting drains and rivers.
In the video produced by the prayer network, the Pope reflected on how water is a symbol of God’s ’grace and love that renews us through Baptism.’ The video shows Pope Leo dipping his hand into a holy water font and making the sign of the cross as he prays inside the Church of San Pellegrino in Vatican City.
Water, he said, ‘quenches thirst, nourishes the earth, and heals wounds,’ describing this gift as a ‘source of fruitfulness, freshness, and hope.’
‘May our care for water be a sign of love for the Creator and a commitment to the lives of the poor, educating new generations to value and protect the Earth’s resources,’ Pope Leo said.
This article was first published by OSV News and has been adapted and republished by EWTN Australia.
