Pope Leo XIV paid a pastoral visit to Acerra, a town located in the southern Italian region known as the ‘Land of Fires,’ on May 23. This area has been plagued by decades of environmental damage, as confirmed by local advocates Michele Pannella and Alessandro Cannavacciuolo from the association Volontari antiroghi Acerra (Acerra Anti-Fires Volunteers).
The conditions in Acerra are dire, with various types of waste—including asbestos, household appliances, and toxic substances—scattered in illegal open dumps along the roadsides. More concerning is the underground pollution that has permanently contaminated the soil. The land that should provide agricultural bounty for the Campania region is instead marred by a legacy of waste disposal.
Pannella and Cannavacciuolo highlighted the long history of contamination that began in the late 1990s and early 2000s when local waste treatment and concrete production companies covertly mixed toxic substances into fertilizers distributed to farmers. This malpractice, often conducted without farmers' knowledge, has led to severe health consequences for the local population, undermining their agricultural activities and overall well-being.
As they guided Vatican News’ filming of these scenes, they pleaded, “Do not abandon us, come back.” Their call sought not only to address the immediate environmental issues but also aimed at garnering support for the late Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato si’, urging that its messages concerning environmental stewardship be taken seriously. This pastoral visit amplifies the voices of those who long for the restoration of health and hope in a region they describe as a breeding ground for death.
