Vatican City, April 8, 2025 — Pope Francis has chosen “Seeds of Peace and Hope” as the theme for this year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which will be celebrated on September 1, 2025, amid the ongoing Jubilee Year and the 10th anniversary of the encyclical Laudato si’.
The announcement was made by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on Monday, underscoring the day’s significance as the opening of the annual Season of Creation, an ecumenical initiative that runs until October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology.
According to the Dicastery’s official statement, the overarching theme for the entire 2025 Season of Creation is “Peace with Creation”, with the chosen biblical passage coming from Isaiah 32:14–18. The text envisions a transformation of a desolate land into a peaceful and just society, symbolizing the flourishing of peace when justice and care for creation prevail.
The theme emphasizes the close link between peace and ecological care—a theme repeatedly addressed in papal teachings. As the Vatican News report highlights, both Pope Francis and his predecessors have articulated this connection in their World Day of Peace messages, notably in 1990 (“Peace with God the Creator, Peace with All of Creation”) and 2010, which drew attention to the environmental consequences of armed conflict and unsustainable practices.
The Vatican also pointed out that war and ecological degradation are intertwined, as conflict often leads to the destruction of natural resources and long-term harm to communities and ecosystems. By invoking the metaphor of seeds, the Pope invites the faithful to sow actions rooted in peace and sustainability, nurturing long-term hope for both people and the planet.
In calling on Christians across denominations to unite in prayer and action, the Dicastery’s message encourages planting these “seeds of peace” worldwide—an invitation to recommit to ecological conversion and global solidarity.
Sources:
- Vatican News. (2025, April 8). ‘Seeds of Peace and Hope’: Theme for 2025 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. Retrieved from www.vaticannews.va
- Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. (2025). Official Statement on the 2025 Season of Creation Theme.
- Pope John Paul II. (1990). Message for the World Day of Peace: Peace with God the Creator, Peace with All of Creation.
- Pope Benedict XVI. (2010). Message for the World Day of Peace: If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation.
Society of Jesus' social apostolate 