Pope Leo XIV has released his prayer intention for September 2026, centering on the theme “For the care of water.” The message, produced by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network as part of the “Pray with the Pope” video series, invites people around the globe to recognize clean water as a universal right and to take responsibility for its conservation. His call coincides with the annual Season of Creation, celebrated by Christians worldwide from September 1 to October 4.
In his videotaped prayer, the Pope describes water as a source of freshness, hope, and fruitfulness, highlighting its spiritual significance as a symbol of God’s grace and baptismal renewal. He expresses grief over the global reality where millions lack clean water or must walk miles to find it, asking for forgiveness for humanity’s tendency to treat water as a commercial commodity rather than a shared, borderless gift.
The Pope prays for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to transform believers into “pilgrims of the essential” who practice moderation and eliminate waste and pollution. He emphasizes that defending access to safe water is a concrete act of love for the Creator and a necessary commitment to helping the poor. Additionally, he stresses the importance of educating future generations to value and protect the planet’s finite resources.
The Season of Creation’s theme for 2026, “Living Water,” draws direct attention to the growing scarcity of fresh water and the stark inequalities in access. UN agencies report that roughly 2.1 billion people worldwide still lack safely managed drinking water, with over 100 million relying solely on untreated surface sources.
To turn prayer into practical action, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network encourages simple household steps such as fixing leaks, taking shorter showers, turning off running faucets, and avoiding the disposal of pollutants down drains. Fr. Cristóbal Fones, International Director of the network, reinforced the Pope’s message, stating that no one should have to live without water or die due to its scarcity, urging everyone to convert compassion into concrete acts of care and solidarity.