'Cherish the Earth': Pope condemns harm to environment

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday held a special mass for the environment, urging people to listen to the "melodious voice" of nature and condemning the destruction caused by wars.

The mass was held in the gardens of the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

"Let us place in silent mode the many noises generated by human activity so that we may hear the melodious voice of creation," the pope said in his homily.

He said he hoped this would encourage awareness "of the responsibility that we bear both personally and collectively for preserving the original harmony".

In a written message, the pope also urged followers to "cherish the Earth" and spoke of the "vicious cycle" between armed conflicts and environmental degradation.

"These phenomena are not unrelated; they are a single plea for healing and peace arising from a wounded world," he wrote.

Pope Leo has repeatedly emphasised the need to protect the natural world.

In November last year, he urged "concrete actions" on climate change and complained that some leaders lacked the will to act.

He has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Francis, whose 2015 encyclical "Laudato Si" denounced mankind's ruthless exploitation of the environment and was hailed by experts for its scientific grounding.