finance
Pope Leo Visits Acerra, Condemns Waste Dumping and Profit Motives
Pope Leo traveled to Acerra, Italy on Saturday and called for an end to practices that pollute land, water, and air. He met with families affected by toxic waste dumping in the region known as the Land of Fires.
May 23, 7:02 AM·1m read1 source
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Pope Leo visited Acerra, about 220 kilometers south of Rome, on Saturday during a one-day pastoral trip. " The area near Naples has been called the "Land of Fires" and the "Triangle of Death" because of illegal toxic waste dumping and elevated cancer rates.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled last year that Italian authorities had failed to protect residents from such dumping since at least 1988.
2025 the same court ordered Italy to create a database of toxic waste sites and inform the public of risks within two years. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appointed a general in February 2025 to head a task force for victim assistance and cleanup. " He stated he came to "gather the tears" of families who lost relatives to related illnesses.
Leo is scheduled to issue his first encyclical on Monday. The document is expected to address artificial intelligence, warfare, and workers' rights.
