Is Pope Leo XIV “woke” for “blessing a block of ice”?
On Oct. 1, 2025, Pope Leo XIV blessed water dripping from a 20,000-year-old block of ice.
According to EWTN Vatican,
“Pope Leo XIV addressed participants in the Raising Hope Conference in Castel Gandolfo, organised by the Laudato Si’ Movement, commemorating the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical of the same name.
A block of ice stood on a pedestal representing the melting polar ice caps. After his address, Pope Leo blessed the water with these words:
‘Lord of Life, bless this water, may it awaken our hearts, cleanse our indifference, soothe our grief, and renew our hope, through Christ our Lord. Amen.’
The Holy Father then blessed the assembly and conference.
Social media users criticized Pope Leo XIV in response to this blessing, and accused him of being “woke.”
EWTN host Father Leo Patalinghug of Plating Grace provided ChurchPOP with a response to these accusations against Pope Leo.
Father Leo explained that “everything that the Holy Father does has nothing to do with politics,” and he “is doing what he's supposed to do: making sure that we as stewards of God's creation.”
He also referenced the Canticle of Daniel, which is often used in the Liturgy of the Hours:
"Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord."
Here's Father Leo Patalinghug’s full explanation below:
“Recently, the Holy Father has been accused of being a woke pope, according to the Daily Mail, 'blessing a block of ice in a bizarre climate change stunt after swiping at Trump's global warming policies.'
“First of all, everything that the Holy Father does has nothing to do with politics, and you can try to interpret it through that lens, but it won't help you to become a good Catholic.
“The Holy Father was presenting a spirituality, not for a global warming conference, but for an environmental justice conference. Now, I know that some people can see that as confusing, but really, the Holy Father is doing what he's supposed to do: making sure that we as stewards of God's creation, are taking care of this earth that God has given to us.
“And while it might seem strange that he blessed a block of ice, it's not just any block of ice. It was estimated to be over 20,000 years old, which shows that creation will endure. But we can also destroy creation, and we're not supposed to do that.
“So, I don't know why people would have an issue with it, knowing that in the canticle of Daniel, it talks about how cold and chill, dew and rain, ice and snow. It's supposed to bless the Lord.
"And by blessing this block of ice, it's just a reminder for all of us that that water, H2O, is a part of our first sacrament in baptism.
“It's one of the first things that God created. And ice, though, that's interesting. It reminds me of the story of a pro-life group after a March for Life gathering in D.C. were on their way back to their own home.
“Their bus broke down in the middle of a snowstorm, and so while they were stranded, the priest offered Mass for the group. And you know what they did? They built an altar out of snow and ice, and they actually had Mass on that block of ice, which was just kind of a beautiful, beautiful thought that nature can be a blessing and we can bless it.
“So no, the Holy Father is not 'woke.'
“He wants to awaken us and remind all Catholics that we are called to care for the Earth. We're called to be stewards of all creation. Hopefully, that water from the melted ice cannot only give us life if we drink it, but if the Holy Father blessed it, He can actually sprinkle it on us, and that will be truly a blessing.”