“And his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.’ Revelation 13:3.
On August 20, 2026, in preparation for the 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo XIV called for an “authentic ecological conversion” as a means of helping to heal the wounds of the world. The Pope’s appeal comes ahead of the annual observance inspired by Laudato Si’, which will be celebrated on September 1, 2026. The Vatican published the text of Pope Leo’s message, which stated in part:
• “Today, we are witnessing many crises and much human suffering … These phenomena are not unrelated; they are a single plea for healing and peace arising from a wounded world.” [1]
• “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.”
• “What is more, war creates wounds that damage the whole fabric of life, harming not only individual persons and communities, but also their broader network of relationships with the whole human family, and their harmony with creation.” [1]
• “The wounds of war and the degradation of the earth, then, are profoundly linked to the condition of the human heart.” [1]
• “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.” [1]
• “God does not leave us without the means of healing and transformation. In place of the weapons of war, the God of peace grants us the strength to heal, to reconcile and to build a civilization of love.” [1]
• “Truth, dialogue, patience, goodness, justice, mercy, understanding, care and love … only these qualities possess the power to transform individuals, renew communities and heal the wounds of our world.” [1]
• “This is the path of authentic ecological conversion, where the effects of our encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in our relationship with the world around us.” [1]
The worldwide healing of the deadly wound of Revelation 13 is ultimately connected with the restoration of papal influence and the coming enforcement of Sunday observance. Pope Leo’s call to heal the wounds of society is significant because he links this healing with ecological conversion and the care of creation. These themes are rooted in the message of Laudato Si’, which connects care for creation with Sunday observance, presenting Sunday as a day of rest, worship, and a renewed relationship with creation.
Dr. Isaac Olatunji: What is Ecological Conversion? #sda #adventist #adventista pic.twitter.com/saOldo0T9U
— Advent Messenger (@Advent1844) November 19, 2023
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis argued that care for creation requires an “ecological conversion”—and then placed the Eucharist and Sunday as part of the plan meant to “heal our relationships with God, with ourselves, with other people, and with the world” (Laudato Si’ #237). Rome’s growing moral and religious influence will ultimately be seen in its efforts to exalt Sunday, bringing the world into the final controversy over worship, God’s law, and the true seventh-day Sabbath.
Sources
[1] https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/08/20/260820b.html
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