Pope Leo XIV: To heal the wounds of war, our hearts must return to God

In a message published ahead of the 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the need for interior conversion to heal the suffering caused by wars.

“The wounds of war and the degradation of the earth … are profoundly linked to the condition of the human heart,” Leo said in his message published on Aug. 20.

“When the heart is distorted, relationships suffer, and the structures we build begin to reflect that disorder,” he added.

Pope Francis established the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in 2015 as an ecumenical initiative to encourage Christians to pray for the protection of creation.

Leo chose the theme for this year to be "They Shall Beat Their Swords Into Plowshares and Their Spears Into Pruning Hooks,” drawn from Isaiah 2:4.

Healing requires conversion

Leo explained in his message that war’s consequences extend far beyond the loss of human life.

“War leaves wounds that extend far beyond the battlefield. It claims lives, tears families apart and forces millions to flee their homes, thereby deepening fear, injustice and division,” Leo said.

The pope then said that healing after the devastation of war requires a conversion of heart and renewed fidelity to God.

“In fact, the human heart is the place where the deepest struggles unfold and our fallen condition reveals itself.”

“The prophetic call to ‘beat swords into plowshares’ is therefore not only a vision for nations, but a call to each person. It invites us to transform harm into life. Yet this transformation cannot be achieved through external change alone. It requires, through cooperating with God’s grace, a deeper personal and collective conversion — a returning to God, who will reorder our desires, heal our wounds and help us grow in virtue,” Leo said.

In July 2025, Pope Leo approved new Mass prayers to support the Church’s appreciation for God’s creation. The “Mass for the Care of Creation” was inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’.

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