The New Votive Rite Option of the Mass “Pro Custodia Creationis”: A Celebration of Creation Rooted in Catholic TraditionIn July 2025, the Vatican announced the introduction of a new votive Mass titled *Pro Custodia Creationis* (For the Care of Creation), a liturgy focused on environmental stewardship and humanity’s responsibility to care for God’s creation. This development has sparked both interest and debate, with some questioning whether it veers toward nature worship or pagan practices like those associated with Pachamama or Mother Nature. This blog post will explain the new rite, ground it in Church teaching, clarify its intention, and address why it is distinctly Catholic and not a form of paganism.
What is the Votive Mass “Pro Custodia Creationis”?
A votive Mass in the Roman Catholic Church is a liturgy celebrated for a specific intention, distinct from the regular liturgical calendar. The Pro Custodia Creationis is designed to emphasize the care of creation, aligning with the Church’s growing focus on ecological responsibility. According to posts on X, the Mass was approved by Pope Leo XIV and includes prayers, such as the Prayer after Communion, which asks that “we may learn to live in harmony with all creatures”. It is intended to be celebrated optionally, particularly in contexts where environmental concerns are prominent, such as during the annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1.
The Mass draws heavily from Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’ (2015), which calls for an “integral ecology” that integrates care for the environment with social justice and human dignity. The liturgy is not a replacement for the traditional Roman Rite but an addition meant to foster reflection on humanity’s role as stewards of creation.
Church Teaching on Creation and Stewardship
The Pro Custodia Creationis is firmly rooted in Catholic theology, which has long emphasized the goodness of creation and humanity’s responsibility to care for it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states:
> “God wills the interdependence of creatures. The sun and the moon, the cedar and the little flower, the eagle and the sparrow: the spectacle of their countless diversities and inequalities tells us that no creature is self-sufficient. Creatures exist only in dependence on each other, to complete each other, in the service of each other.” (CCC 340)
This teaching underscores that creation is a gift from God, ordered toward His glory, and entrusted to humanity for stewardship, not exploitation. The Book of Genesis further supports this, where God gives humans “dominion” over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28), interpreted by the Church as a call to responsible care, not domination.
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis expands on this, stating:
> “We are not God. The earth was here before us and it has been given to us… Each community can take from the bounty of the earth whatever it needs for subsistence, but it also has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations.” (Laudato Si’, 67)
The Pro Custodia Creationis reflects these teachings by encouraging Catholics to pray for the wisdom and strength to care for the environment in a way that honors God’s design. The Mass’s prayers and readings likely draw from scriptures like Psalm 24 (“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it”) and Romans 8:19-22, which speaks of creation groaning for redemption, reinforcing the theological foundation of ecological responsibility.
Intention of the New Rite
The intention of the Pro Custodia Creationis is to integrate environmental stewardship into the Church’s liturgical life, making it a focal point for prayer and action. It responds to contemporary ecological crises—climate change, deforestation, pollution—while framing them within a Catholic worldview. As Pope Francis noted in *Laudato Si’*, “Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience” (Laudato Si’, 217).
The Mass is meant to inspire Catholics to live out this vocation through sustainable practices, advocacy for environmental justice, and gratitude for creation’s beauty. It also aligns with the Church’s broader mission of inculturation, adapting the liturgy to address modern challenges while remaining faithful to doctrine. The Vatican’s announcement suggests Pope Leo XIV will celebrate this Mass at Castel Gandolfo in July 2025, signaling its importance as a model for global Catholic communities ().
Addressing Concerns About Paganism
Critics, as seen in posts on X, have expressed concerns that the Pro Custodia Creationis might resemble pagan nature worship, particularly evoking the 2019 Amazon Synod controversy involving Pachamama statues. These concerns often stem from misunderstandings of the Church’s approach to inculturation and the use of symbols that may appear pagan to some. To address this, it’s essential to distinguish Catholic reverence for creation from pagan practices like those associated with Pachamama or Mother Nature worship.
Paganism, as historically understood, involves polytheistic or animistic beliefs that attribute divinity to natural elements or deities like Pachamama, an Andean goddess revered as “Mother Earth”. Such practices often include rituals offering sacrifices or prayers to nature deities for prosperity or protection, which are fundamentally at odds with Catholic monotheism. The Catholic Church teaches that there is one true God, the Creator, who is distinct from His creation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachamama)
> “The universe, created in and by the eternal Word, the second person of the Holy Trinity, reflects the wisdom and goodness of God… Creation is the foundation of all God’s saving plans… and so we see in it something of the reflection of God’s glory.” (CCC 295, 299)
The Pro Custodia Creationis does not worship creation but honors God through His creation, recognizing it as a gift that reveals His glory. This is distinct from paganism, which might deify nature itself, as seen in practices where Pachamama is venerated with offerings like food or incense. The Mass’s focus is on stewardship—caring for the earth as an act of obedience to God’s command to “till and keep” the Garden (Genesis 2:15).[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachamama)
The 2019 Amazon Synod controversy, where statues labeled as Pachamama were displayed in Vatican gardens, fueled accusations of idolatry. Pope Francis clarified that there “was no idolatrous intention” in their use, and sources indicate the statues, purchased from a craft market, symbolized life and indigenous culture, not worship. The Church has a history of inculturation, transforming cultural symbols to reflect Christian truths, as seen when early Christians repurposed Roman feast days to honor saints. However, the lack of clear explanation during the Synod led to confusion, highlighting the need for careful communication to avoid scandal. (https://www.homeofthemother.org/en/magazine/selected-articles/spiritual-life/10830-il-sinodo-per-l%25E2%2580%2599amazzonia-e-la-pachamama-2)[](https://francisclooney.hsites.harvard.edu/blog/pope-amazon-and-pachamama)[](https://www.reddit.com/r/Catholicism/comments/zcipbw/why_did_the_pope_allow_pachamama_idol_at_the/)
The Pro Custodia Creationis avoids such ambiguity by grounding its prayers and intention in Catholic doctrine, as articulated in Laudato Si’ and the Catechism. It does not invoke nature deities or promote pantheism, which equates God with the universe. Instead, it calls Catholics to live in harmony with creation, as the Prayer after Communion suggests, reflecting the interconnectedness of all creatures interdependent under God’s providence (CCC 340,). This aligns with St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures, which praises God through “Sister Earth, our Mother,” without deifying nature. (https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10717a.htm)(https://mustfollowifican.wordpress.com/2024/01/24/pachamama-at-the-vatican/)
Why This Matters Today
The Pro Custodia Creationis responds to urgent ecological challenges while remaining faithful to Catholic teaching. It invites Catholics to reflect on their role as stewards in a world facing environmental crises, fostering a spirituality that sees care for creation as an expression of love for God and neighbor. As Pope Francis writes:
> “A sense of deep communion with the rest of nature cannot be authentic if our hearts lack tenderness, compassion, and concern for our fellow human beings.” (*Laudato Si’*, 91)
By integrating ecological awareness into the liturgy, the Mass bridges faith and action, encouraging Catholics to address environmental issues without compromising the Church’s monotheistic faith.
The Pro Custodia Creationis is a votive Mass that celebrates God’s creation, rooted in the Church’s teachings on stewardship and the goodness of the created order. Its intention is to inspire Catholics to care for the earth as a moral and spiritual duty, not to worship nature as pagans might. By grounding itself in Scripture, the Catechism, and Laudato Si’, the Mass avoids the pitfalls of paganism, such as those associated with Pachamama or Mother Nature worship, and instead offers a distinctly Catholic vision of “integral ecology.” As the Church navigates modern challenges, this liturgy serves as a call to honor God by caring for His creation, ensuring that faith and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.
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References
- *Catechism of the Catholic Church* (CCC), 1994.
Something incredible happened in Rome. Thieves entered the Santa Maria in Traspontina church just before dawn and stole the carved wooden Amazon figures which were presented to Pope Francis on October 4th as "Our Lady of the Amazon" but were later described in a Amazon Synod presser as a "representation of life. (see: http://www.sacerdotus.com/2019/10/pagan-pope-pagan-vatican-ceremony.html)"
Fr Giacomo Costa, a synod official had told a press conference: “It is not the Virgin Mary, who said it is the Virgin Mary?… It is an indigenous woman who represents life.” But another synod official, Fr Roberto Carrasco Rojas OMI has insisted that the statue is a Marian figure. “This figure is the Virgin Mary of the Amazon, Our Lady of the Amazon,” he told Rome Reports. “It’s a devotion that started in the indigenous communities… They carved in wood an image of a blessed mother, who is pregnant.” However, Bishop David MartΓnez De Aguirre Guinea told reporters at an press briefing on October 7 this: “Probably, those who used this symbol wished to refer to fertility, to women, to life, the life present among these Amazonian people and Amazonia is meant to be full of life. I don’t think we need to create any connections with the Virgin Mary or with a Pagan element.”
So-called traditionalist bloggers and podcasters such as Dr. Taylor Marshall and Michael Voris have called the figure "Pachamama" or a pagan goddess. I have not found any Vatican offical call the figure by this name. It derives solely from traditionalist and conservative squares. Moreover, the images of "pachamama" do not match the ones presented at the Vatican. Pachamama is often depicted as a heavy set indigenous woman. Other depictions show her as pregnant or as a mountain figure.
Here are the videos:
The video has this caption:
“for only one reason: Our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, his blessed Mother, and everybody who follows Christ, are being attacked by members of our own Church. We do not accept this! We do not longer stay silent! We start to act NOW!” [sic]
“Because we love humanity, we can not accept that people of a certain region should not get baptised and therefore are being denied entrance into heaven,” the caption continues. “It is our duty to follow the words of God like our holy Mother did. There is no second way of salvation. Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat!”
The act was described by Vatican officials as a "stunt" and "theft." Ruffini said, "is a gesture that seems to me to contradict the spirit of dialogue that should always animate everything. I don't know what else to say. It was theft." He added of the incident, “seems to me to contradict the gesture of dialogue." Fr. Costa said that the images represents life in the Amazon like "glass of water or parrots" represents the region. Focus on the statues, and the gesture of throwing them into the Tiber river, doesn't make sense. However, it is never constructive to steal an object."
Here is some reaction on Twitter. Many Catholics celebrated the theft and dumping of the statues. Others have interpreted as a sign of xenophobia:
Video taken by Catholic heroes of the removal of the desecrating Pachamama idols from St Maria Transpontina and throwing them into the river Tiber
They were thrown into the river by Castel Sant'angelo, beneath the statue of St Michael the Archangel
Breaking (or Floating): Two men break into a Roman church, abduct the Amazonian indigenous "symbol of life" statues, and send them to the paripheries. https://t.co/x3Hgwo5V1S
Now someone has stolen the figures, popularly referred to as "Our Lady of the Amazon," from the church where they were displayed - at least one of which was blessed by the pope - and tossed them into the Tiber. https://t.co/kVaorRvOXhpic.twitter.com/VMdGAycBBl
— πππ π πππ¬ππ¨ (@mfjlewis) October 21, 2019
An act of iconoclasm, and a further attack on the indigenous of the Amazon, who are already persecuted.
This takes place amid a climate of hostility to indigenous icons generated in some Church quarters during the Amazon synod https://t.co/YbLK0GiuWQ
It would help to have an apology from the Catholic news medium that first put out a story describing her as a pagan fertility symbol without ever asking the indigenous people, their pastors or the synod organisers who or what she was. Fake news has consequences. #sinodoamazonicohttps://t.co/u3EnYFwfa4
A wood carving statue of a naked pregnant woman that has been at the heart of brewing controversies since before the Vatican’s major summit on the Amazon region began was stolen from a Roman Church on Monday and tossed in the Tiber River.
Just prayed here at Transpontina church at altar where, in an act of appalling disrespect & violence, fanatics egged on by ethics-free journalism this am broke in here & threw into the Tiber the figurine described by the Catholic people of Amazonia as Our Lady of the Amazon. pic.twitter.com/G8PSaK175m
Someone find this MAN and bestow upon him The Supreme Order of Christ (the highest chivalric award a Pope can bestow but, sadly, none since 1987.) He well deserves it. https://t.co/EssOVcv2iR
For Catholics hesitant to endorse the removal of the Pachamama idols, note they were taken from a Catholic church. This is like someone setting up an idol in your home; you have every right to remove it. And every Catholic church is “owned”, in a very real sense, by the faithful.
This take on theological and symbolical inculturation from #AmazonSynod reminds me of Trump saying that he would be happy to accept more migrants from Norway https://t.co/mVivABSNUa
A sick crime. The statue was in the church to represent life given us by God.
Catholic churches are full of allegorical images--pelicans, eagles, fish, human representations of virtues. Yet when Amazonian Catholics designate an image to represent their faith, they are "pagan." https://t.co/wa67XjQsy9
Let's fill #CatholicTwitter with allegorical figures that non-Catholics might assume we worship, when in fact we reverence not the images but who & what they represent.
At the Gesu in Rome, by the altar of St. Ignatius: a Marian-style allegorical image by Pierre Le Gros represents "Religion Overthrowing Heresy and Hatred."
Yet a Marian-style allegorical image in a church, which indigenous Catholics say represents life, was "pagan"? #hypocrisypic.twitter.com/cAkLD47edf
Perfectly normal folks, nothing to see here, just 2 thieves entering Santa Maria in Traspontina Church, stealing symbols of the indigenous people of the Amazon then hurling them into the Tiber River. A disgrace and desecration: https://t.co/78zZYoKdYD
Not only is this an act of theft, but also an affront to Pope Francis who was presented with one of the statues at #AmazonSynod dedication ceremony. pic.twitter.com/Mv0F7qa4q1
I announce to you with great joy: the Pachamama idols that polluted the Church of St Maria Transpontina have been cast away into the Tiber River as an act of obedience to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ & in reparation to His Sacred Heart wounded by sin: https://t.co/weBoYJKN8Wpic.twitter.com/9GSDmCYWrl
The hatred and contempt that the Synod for the Amazon has unleashed is astonishing. A hatred for indigenous peoples and their cultures. A portrayal of them as "other." And a hatred of course for Pope Francis. All this hatred leads inevitably to violence. https://t.co/MjematEjvq
As you can see, many Catholics are happy that the images were stolen and thrown into the river. They see the images as idols or even a demon which was enthroned at the Vatican. However, not everyone was happy. Some consider the act as an act of xenophobia and racism. A Jesuit priest even reported Deacon Nick, Dr. Taylor and others for this:
During writing breaks today I’m reporting racist, xenophobic tweets regarding theft of statues carved by indigenous artists for the #AmazonSynod, including from @ProtecttheFaith, @TaylorRMarshall, @RorateCaeli. This is more than intolerance, it is sick hate mongering.
As I stated before, I am not sure what the images are. They were presented as Our Lady of the Amazon, but then were presented as a female figure representing life only to later be described as the Virgin Mary again and then as a figure of the Amazon. It is so confusing. I personally do not believe it is Pachamama. I see no evidence for this and no one at the Vatican nor the Amazon natives have called the figure by this name. The name only can be found from sources within the so-called traditionalist blogosphere and other reactionaries.
What is troubling to me is the celebration of theft and the destruction of property. Let us supposed that, in fact, these were idols and the bloggers are correct. Should we steal things and destroy property? When the Statue of Liberty was proposed as a gift to the United States, Catholic New Yorkers protested heavily because the statue is a pagan goddess Libertas. They felt that this was a celebration and introduction of Paganism into American lives. The protests went nowhere and the frenzy died down. No one saw the statue as a pagan goddess. Even today, no one even identifies the statue as such. The Statue of Liberty stands alone as simply the Statue of Liberty that represents liberty, immigrants, New York and America.
To see Dr. Taylor Marshall and others celebrate the sin of theft is disturbing. What happened to "thou shalt not steal?" He cites events in the past regarding saints and others, but we are not in those times. Are Catholics supposed to enter satanic temples now and bash the heads of satanic statues? Are Catholics supposed to now go and destroy Buddha statues? Is this the norm he wants? This is crazy talk. Furthermore, the charge about xenophobia and racism is not one we can ignore. Even if this figure is not the Virgin Mary, we have to be concerned about the hate being demonstrated by whites against indigenous people. Virgin Mary or not, the image is representative of a culture, of a people. To trash it and speak ill of it is pretty much a reflection xenophobia and hate. This issue has to be looked into greatly. If this image is finally decided by the Vatican as representing the Virgin Mary as the Amazonians interpret her, then Taylor and company are in big trouble. They will have to answer to the charges of racism and xenophobia.
We should also be concerned about copycats looking to make a statement, as well as, the fact that this church has no security. How can this Vatican landmark not have security?
UPDATE:
The group behind the Amazon Synod will be charging the men and is looking to identify them:
Since the fall, the famed toys store Toys 'R' Us has been on the news due to bankruptcy. After the holiday, executives at the big box store thought things would be better. However, this did not happen. Last week, rumors were circling social media that the big toy store would close all its stores. That week is now upon us and according to the Wall Street Journal, an official said that employees were informed about the demise of Toys 'R' Us. This official said that employees were told that all stores in the United States of America will close and that there will be liquidation sales posted. The official Twitter account has not tweeted any announcement nor has there been any official statement to the press. The Twitter account posted a tweet last week stating that all stores are open for business.
To our loyal customers: We’ve seen an amazing outpouring of love and support in recent days and we truly appreciate it. Our stores are open for business, ready to bring joy to children wherever we can, and to help new and expecting parents navigate raising a family.
So far, the news is that the big toy store will be closing for good. Many blame Amazon, Target and Walmart for the failure of Toys 'R' Us. Others blame the big salaries chief executives collect. In any event, we live in a time where brick and mortar stores have been suffering greatly. Online sales are more popular. No one wants to go out to shop anymore, especially younger Americans. Everything is at one's fingertips on a cell phone or tablet these days. Moreover, the experience of shopping in store is not always so pleasant. Stores are often crowded with long lines at the check out. Prices are also an issue. Toys 'R' Us often sold toys at very high prices. However, they do match prices with other stores. Then there is the unprofessionalism from employees. Take this experience from one of my followers on Twitter who complained to Toys 'R' Us about an rude and unprofessional employee:
(1) Hi @ToysRUsHelp on Feb 10, 2018 at around 1 PM, I went with my nephew to the Bayplaza store in the Bronx. There was a team member arguing and being nasty with a customer. Minutes after, I went to get an amiibo and asked the same team member if she can get it for me.
(2) @ToysRUsHelp This team member spoke rudely to me telling me this other person was first. Then she raised her voice and was very nasty. I was simply asking for help to get an item.
(3) @ToysRUsHelp Then she continued to argue and was disrespectful. Afterwards, she did not want to attend to me at the register and asked a yellow shirt team member to take me elsewhere.
(4) @ToysRUsHelp I have video and will post screen shots. Here is one of her with the customer she was harassing. Everyone was looking at the commotion. The customer was visibly upset at how he was treated. pic.twitter.com/CblwzwwCnC
(5) @ToysRUsHelp Here is her when she was raising her voice at me and being disrespectful, rude and nasty. She has her team uniform covered, no name badge. pic.twitter.com/jxOy2Ve6Oe
(7) @ToysRUsHelp Here are photos of her as she told the heavy set yellow shirt team member to take me elsewhere. She probably did this so I could not get her name on the receipt. Managers here are useless and seem afraid of her. pic.twitter.com/AVvtY4oz4W
(8) @ToysRUsHelp Here is her photo again. I want her fired. She made the shopping experience extremely hostile for myself and others. I will be showing this video to the media so they can report on ToysRus and why they are possibly going out of business due to these workers. pic.twitter.com/9OF3BYGRTj
With this kind of experience, who would want to shop here? In any event, the store will be missed. I have many memories as a child going there, as well as, going there with my nephew and niece and watching their faces light up. Hopefully, this report is just hearsay and the store will thrive or be bought by another company who knows how to manage a business in this new era of business. Over 30, 000 jobs are at stake. If not, then it is time for all of us to finally grow up and become neurotic and miserable adults in this crazy society.
Toys 'R' Us says it will likely close all U.S. stores, threatening 33,000 jobs. 'We are putting a for sale sign on everything' https://t.co/LXNnWOjhF4
It seems that it is true that Toys 'R' Us is going out of business. I found these tweets from their accounts which shows that they are preparing to close.
Yes. We will provide more details about the plans for the liquidation of the U.S. stores and going out of business sales in the near term.
For questions about products or warranties, customers in the U.S. should continue to contact our Customer Service Department at 1 (800) TOYSRUS or 1 (800) 869-7787 between the hours of 8 AM and 11 PM ET.
My recently released book 'Atheism Is Stupid' is now available on Amazon for Preorder. This version is the e-book or Kindle version. It will be delivered to your Kindle or e-reader device on January 28, 2016. To preorder to go: Kindle Version: Atheism Is Stupid
My book, 'Atheism Is Stupid' is on sale now on Amazon and other locations. It will be available in your local bookstores in about 6-8 weeks, please request it with your local merchant to expedite the process. As many of you know, I was an atheist most of my life and am now a Catholic. In this book, I critique Atheism and many of the most common arguments and ideas that atheists hold and propagate on and offline. This book is meant to show how 'stupid' the concept of atheism really is using my fields of study, the sciences, philosophy, theology as well as other fields of academia which I referenced. This book is not meant to disparage atheists, only criticize atheism and refute it. The book itself is part of a popular blog series. Many more volumes will follow as there is much to cover on the topic of atheism which would have been too much for just one book. Therefore, expect more books to come in the near future. Hopefully, I will be able to get this current book translated into other languages. This book will be an asset for theists of any faith in regards to helping them defend God against atheism. It will also force those atheists who are objective to question their own atheistic beliefs. This book is a must have for apologists, philosophers, scientists and the avid reader. To purchase go to any of the links below: Barnes and Noble: Atheism Is Stupid Atheism Is Stupid - Createspace Amazon: Atheism Is Stupid
Yesterday Amazon, the online merchant had a "Prime Day" event celebrating its 20 years of existence. During this event, "deals" were going to be shown specifically for "prime users" to take advantage of. The event was billed as being better than Black Friday sales. However, things did not go so smoothly for customers. Fans of Amazon complained that the event was more like a "garage sale" than an actual bargain sale. The hashtag "primeday" was set up to promote the event, but another one took its place, "primedayfail." I myself tried the event using my student prime account which I have from my university and saw what others saw.
Things available for purchase at "discounted" prices were pretty much not attractive to today's gadget addicted crowd. Two specific "deals" were on the radar of online shoppers. These were two television sets priced at $75 (32 inch screen) and the other at $115 (40 inch screen). However, when the televisions were put on sale, they were "claimed" instantly. Users were then told that the waiting list was full. This angered many users who saw it as a scam. I myself tried to order one of the television sets as a gift for a relative and got the same message. Mind you, I clicked immediately when it popped up. I then contacted customer service both via phone and online and was told it was a glitch and then was told that the item sold out.
It seemed they were only selling one set because anything else is just not logical. I immediately filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau as this was a clear example of false advertisement. Moreover, later on at night, a 39 inch television was put as "coming up." The timer was then changed from 5 seconds away from being displayed as a deal to one to be released 1 hour later. Then as that hour was approaching, the television was removed, the price changed to $368. Then within another 30 minutes the television miraculous appeared as "coming up" with the counter counting down. When the counter expired, the television was listed at merely $219 and you guessed it.. it sold out within a half second. Oh well...
Nevertheless, I did get two phone podcast mics to use to record shows for Sacerdotus Radio and also when I am going to interview someone away from home; as well as some toys for my nephews and books for myself to read. Here are some tweets on the event:
