After decades of ecumenical celebrations of the Feast of Creation on September 1 – also known as Creation Day or the World Day of Prayer for Creation – a landmark gathering unfolded in Assisi. This historic event brought together church leaders and theological and liturgical scholars from diverse Christian denominations with one shared mission: to explore the possibility of elevating this observance to a liturgical feast in the Western Churches, as a way of marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 2025.

In the spirit of Saint Francis, over a hundred delegates from across the globe convened in the land that inspired the Song of the Creatures. A series of compelling panels delved into the theological mystery of Creation, examining its place in the liturgical calendar. Guided by the principle Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi – the intrinsic connection between how we pray (liturgy) and what we believe (theology) – the seminar took a threefold approach, tackling theological, historical, and pastoral dimensions.

The gathering built on momentum from an earlier seminar held in March by the Laudato Si’ Research Institute, in collaboration with Pro Civitate Christiana and Centro Laudato Si’ Assisi. Participants focused on the concept of La Creazione – God’s act of creation in its theological and Christological richness – as a foundational event in salvation history.

A central highlight of the event was the Conversation in the Spirit, facilitated by the Discerning Leadership team. This approach fostered meaningful dialogue, prayerful discernment, and a deep sense of community among participants.

Delegates, both in Assisi and online, engaged in dynamic discussions to discern key questions:

• Should Creation Day be elevated from its current “World Day of Prayer” status to a liturgical feast in the Roman Rite?
• Should it be universally celebrated in the General Roman Calendar, or remain an optional feast for episcopal conferences to adopt?
• What ranking would be most appropriate – Solemnity or Feast – and what date would best reflect its significance?

The discussions yielded a hopeful and ambitious vision: a willingness to move forward toward establishing a solemn day dedicated to the Mystery of Creation, grounded in an ecumenical spirit. Delegates underscored the importance of allowing time to consolidate the proposal among Bishops’ Conferences and ensure a strong liturgical foundation.

The sense of urgency was palpable, as was the shared desire for collective action. While more discernment is needed to address theological nuances and refine the feast’s definition, the results of the voting were unmistakable: nearly 70% of participants expressed alignment with the proposal to elevate Creation Day to a liturgical feast in the Roman Rite.

The gathering concluded with a clear direction: a strong commitment to further exploration and collaboration, as Western Churches strive to jointly embrace Creation Day as an official liturgical feast. A follow-up conference is scheduled for May, providing an opportunity to deepen the discernment. Therefore, the Assisi event not only reflected the growing ecumenical enthusiasm for Creation Day but also set a hopeful trajectory toward its recognition as a liturgical feast, offering the faithful an opportunity to celebrate the Triune God as Creator and to contemplate the foundational mystery of La Creazione.

“We come together to take charge of this home which has been entrusted to us, knowing that all the good which exists here will be taken up into the heavenly feast. In union with all creatures, we journey through this land seeking God, for “if the world has a beginning and if it has been created, we must enquire who gave it this beginning, and who was its Creator”. Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.”

(Pope Francis, Laudato Sì)