Thursday, May 28Thursday, May 28Pope Leo XIV today condemned corporate greed driving environmental destruction and demanded justice for victims of toxic pollution, as he visited Italy’s "Land of Fires"—a region blighted by mafia-run waste dumping. During a pastoral trip to Acerra, near Naples, the pontiff directly linked "dizzying profits" to practices that poison land, water, and communities, calling for a radical shift in economic and religious values to prioritize life over enrichment.
Speaking to a crowd of 15,000 in Piazza Calipari, Leo met families who lost children to cancers tied to illegal toxic waste, a crisis fueled by decades of criminal collusion. "Obscure interests and indifference to the common good have poisoned this land," he declared, framing the visit as a continuation of Pope Francis’ 2015 ecological encyclical *Laudato Si’* on its 11th anniversary. The Vatican later confirmed the trip was timed to underscore the urgency of climate action, with Leo urging governments to adopt policies mirroring the Dutch *Urgenda* case—a landmark ruling that forced the Netherlands to cut emissions, championed by the late activist Marjan Minnesma, who died of breast cancer on 22 May at age 59.
In a separate but parallel crisis, activists detained by Israel after attempting to breach Gaza’s blockade alleged systemic abuse, including rape and sexual assault, during their detention. Organizers of the *Freed Gaza* flotilla reported 15 cases of sexual violence among the 37 released detainees, with several hospitalized for injuries. Israeli officials denied the accusations, but France 24 cited testimonies from activists like Adrien Berthel of *Global Sumud France*, who described "degrading treatment" in custody. The allegations emerge amid broader tensions over Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, where 400,000 children have been displaced by ongoing bombardment.
Leo’s visit to Acerra—his first to the region—coincided with renewed scrutiny of corporate accountability. He singled out companies profiting from pollution, warning that "a true change in economic, civil, and even religious mentality" is needed to heal communities. The pope’s remarks echoed Minnesma’s legal legacy; her *Urgenda* victory in 2019 established a precedent for climate litigation, compelling governments to act. As Leo’s papacy aligns with Francis’ environmental agenda, his focus on the *Terra dei Fuochi* signals a push to elevate ecological justice as a moral imperative—tying corporate impunity, state inaction, and human suffering into a single narrative.
Pope Leo decries dizzying profits earned by companies that pollute
news.yahoo.com · 5 days ago
Freed Gaza flotilla activists allege Israeli abuse including rape Activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to bring aid to Gaza were subjected to abuse, organisers said on Friday, with several hospitalised with injuries and at least 15 reporting sexual assaults, including rape.
france24 · 5 days ago
Activist Minnesma, who won landmark case forcing government emissions cuts, dies at 59 Marjan Minnesma, the Dutch climate activist who co-founded Urgenda and led a landmark lawsuit forcing the Dutch government to strengthen its emissions policy, has died at age 59 from breast cancer,
nltimes.nl · 5 days ago
Florin Talpan îl bagă la cheltuială pe Gigi Becali: „Daune morale de 20.000 de euro!. Taxat pentru prejudicii de imagine Procesul a fost deschis de Florin Talpan în anul 2024.
adevarul · 5 days ago
Papa Leone ad Acerra: Ognuno si assuma le proprie responsabilità, scegliamo la giustizia e la vita Prima volta del Santo Padre in Terra dei Fuochi, dove ha incontrato le famiglie vittime dellinquinamento: Oscuri interessi e indifferenza al bene comune hanno avvelenato lambiente. E aggiunge: Sarà un vero cambiamento di mentalità economica, civile e perfino religiosa a edificare il bene che risanerà questa terra. Più di 15mila persone a piazza Calipari
corriere · 5 days ago
Activists allege Israeli sexual assault: Israeli officials deny accusations Adrien Berthel, Activist at Global Sumud France, is our guest.
france24 · 5 days ago
Pope meets families who lost children to toxic waste in Italys Land of Fires Pastoral visit took in conversations with affected residents of polluted area around Naples seeking justicePope Leo XIV has greeted families who lost loved ones to illegal toxic dumping in an area near Naples, as many paused to share photographs and other mementos of children and young people who have died or are battling cancer – illnesses tied to a multi-billion criminal racket run by the mafia.Leos visit to the so-called Terra dei Fuochi, or Land of Fires, came on the eve of the 11th anniversary of Pope Francis big ecological encyclical Laudato Si (Praised Be), and indicates Leos commitment to carry on his predecessors environmental agenda. Continue reading...
theguardian · 5 days ago
Forget a message in a bottle, how about a whole ecosystem? A five-minute guide to terrariums and their nasty history
gdeltproject.org · 5 days ago
Pope Leo urges end to pollution, criticises profits earned Pope Leo on Saturday called out companies who seek dizzying profits at the cost of environmental pollution, on a visit to an area in Italy known as a hotbed for illegal dumping of toxic waste. On a visit to Acerra, about 220 km (137 miles) south of Rome, the first US pope urged the world to reject temptations of power and enrichment linked to practices that pollute the land, water, air, and social coexistence. Leo said he wanted to come to the area near Naples known as the Land of Fires –...
south china morning post · 5 days ago
Pope Leo blasts dizzying profits behind Italys toxic waste pollution and health crisis Pope urged the world to reject temptations of power and enrichment linked to practices that pollute the land, water, air, and social coexistence during a visit to Acerra
independent · 5 days ago
The one toy I took from my war torn home: Plight of the 400,000 children displaced by Israels war on Lebanon Around 400,000 children have been displaced in Lebanon due to Israels bombardment and invasion. As a shaky ceasefire is extended for 45 days, they show the toys they brought with them - and share their dreams to one day return home. Alex Croft reports
independent · 5 days ago
Israel attacks southern Lebanon and near Syrian border despite ceasefire People in southern Lebanon are living under psychological terror from Israeli air attacks and displacement orders.
aljazeera · 5 days ago