Pope Leo Urges End to Pollution, Criticizes Profits Earned at Expense of Planet and People Pope Leo's visit to Acerra, Italy, highlighted the stark reality that even in the 21st century, profits are often prioritized over people and planet.
The region, known as the "Land of Fires," has suffered decades of unchecked pollution, with the European Court of Human Rights ruling last year that authorities failed to protect residents from waste dumping since at least 1988.
The consequences of this neglect have been devastating: respiratory diseases have ravaged families, and what was once a thriving town is now a toxic wasteland.