Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 31, 2023 / 12:55 pm
Pope Francis issued calls for a renewed focus on environmental stewardship in two papal telegrams sent to Greece and Italy, released by the Vatican Friday, as the countries’ citizens contend with damaging wildfires and storms.
Recent wildfires have devastated large parts of Greece and left several people dead, while the storms in Italy damaged buildings and resulted in several deaths amid record-high temperatures.
Writing on behalf of Pope Francis, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin wrote to Bishop Petros Stefànou, president of the Greek Catholic bishops’ conference, sharing the pope’s concerns and solidarity.
“His Holiness Pope Francis is deeply concerned by the threat to life and damage caused by the widespread wildfires in various parts of Greece, and beyond, as a result of the current heat wave afflicting a number of European countries,” the telegram read.