Pope Francis calls to preserve water in the world: A radical change is necessary

Pope Francis underlined the vital importance of water and called for a “radical change” to preserve this resource as a whole, as indicated in a message sent this Saturday to the Ambassador of Costa Rica to the Holy See, Federico Zamora Cordero.

The call was also addressed to the participants of the High Level Event on ocean action “Immersed in change”, which will be held in San José, the Costa Rican capital, from June 7 to 8, 2024.

Pope Francis began Your message highlighting the symbolic and practical importance of water, recalling how ancient Rome revered this vital resource. “It is significant that one of the most emblematic images of the city of Rome is that of Oceanus, who, on a chariot of sea horses guided by tritons, makes his way through its streets,” said the Pontiff, referring to the historic arrival of water. to the city.

The Holy Father invited us to reflect on the attitude towards water, making reference to Saint Francis of Assisi, who in the Canticle of the Creatures referred to water as “useful, humble, precious and chaste.”

However, he regretted that these values ​​have currently been corrupted: “It is regrettable to see that we pervert such epithets by converting what is useful, such as water, into an object of exploitation. We outrage that which carries out humble and silent work for the common good.”

Francisco harshly criticized the exploitation of water, regretting that it has become “a currency of exchange, a reason for speculation and even a vehicle for extortion.”

In his message, he made an analogy with the Trevi Fountain in Rome, whose fountain, the Acqua Vergine, owes its name to a young woman who guided Roman legionaries to the spring, thus highlighting the purity and value of the water.

“I hope that the image of this beautiful Roman fountain helps us realize that our entire civilization is immersed in the ocean, that we understand that a radical change is necessary to recover the meaning of those adjectives of Saint Francis,” he urged.

Likewise, he stressed the importance of valuing water for its usefulness “in food security” and “its humble work in climate regulation.” “Let us fight against pollution to restore its precious beauty and resolve not to violate its purity, leaving it as a legacy to the next generations,” she urged.

At the end of his message, Pope Francis sent greetings and his blessing to all participants of the event, hoping that collective efforts “will return the oceans and everything they contain to their legitimate dignity as creatures of God.”

The “Immersed in Change” event seeks to promote international action and cooperation in the protection of the oceans, highlighting the urgent need to address the environmental challenges that affect these ecosystems vital to the planet.