The Vatican has turned off the city state’s 100 fountains to conserve water as Rome deals with one of its worst droughts in decades.
The office governing Vatican City State announced that the drought has “led the Holy See to take measures aimed at saving water” by shutting down fountains in St Peter’s Square, throughout the Vatican Gardens and in the territory of the state.
“The decision is in line with the teachings of Pope Francis, who reminds us in his encyclical Laudato si’ how ‘the habit of wasting and discarding’ has reached ‘unprecedented levels’ while ‘fresh drinking water is an issue of primary importance, since it is indispensable for human life and for supporting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems’,” the office said.
The prolonged drought has forced officials from the Lazio region of Italy to halt pumping water from Lake Bracciano, located roughly 19 miles north of Rome. Lower than usual rainfalls in the past two years have steadily depleted the lake, which provides eight per cent of the city’s water supply.
In an interview with Italian news outlet Tgcom24, Nicola Zingaretti, the region’s president, said the lake’s water level had “fallen too much and we risk an environmental disaster”.
While the drought had already forced city officials to shut down some of Rome’s public drinking fountains in June, it may lead to strict water rationing for the city’s 1.5 million residents.
City officials may also take the Vatican’s lead and stop water pouring from Rome’s many ancient fountains.
The majestic fountains of St Peter’s Square have cascaded water for centuries since their construction in the 17th century.
While the source of water was once provided from an ancient Roman aqueduct, the two fountains, as well as 10 per cent of Vatican City State’s 100 fountains, “recirculate water currently”, Greg Burke, Vatican spokesman, told Catholic News Service.
Others, he added, “will eventually be transformed in order to recirculate” the same water rather than let it be wasted by running into the drainage or sewer system.
Burke told CNS that the Vatican’s move to switch off the fountains located within its territory was “a way to show a good example” in conserving water as the city deals with the crisis.
“We’re not going to be able to solve Rome’s water problem this summer, but we can do our part,” Burke said. “Let’s not waste water.”
Trump picks Catholic to promote religious freedom
kansas governor Sam Brownback said he was “honoured” to promote the “important cause” of religious freedom at an emotional press conference last week.
“At noon today, I went and did something that is simple and done by millions of Americans every day,” he said. “But other people in different parts of the world, they risk their lives or could face death, and some have faced death for doing it.
“I took Communion. And people face death around the world, for this simple act.”
President Donald Trump nominated Brownback to the position of ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom, according to a White House announcement. The governor tweeted: “Religious freedom is the first freedom. The choice of what you do with your own soul. I am honoured to serve such an important cause.”
The governor has a long record of upholding religious freedom since his support of the International Religious Freedom Act in 1998 as a senator. This is the act which created the office for which he is nominated. In 2002, Brownback became a Catholic.
His nomination must still be approved by the senate.
‘Heroic’ priests confront soldiers
Five young Catholic priests have been praised for their courage after confronting soldiers who were advancing tanks towards a funeral.
The standoff came on the day of Venezuela’s referendum. A crowd had gathered for the funeral of Rafael Vergara,who had been killed during a protest, in the city of Ejido in Mérida state.
The priests stopped the funeral, walked towards the tanks and asked the soldiers to go away, which they did.
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