Pope appeals for justice over mafia-linked toxic dumping in Italy's Land of Fires
Pope Leo visited Acerra near Naples to meet families affected by mafia‑linked illegal toxic dumping in the Terra dei Fuochi and urged accountability, as the European Court of Human Rights ruled Italy had been aware of pollution since 1988 but failed to protect residents. The case affects about 2.9 million people across 90 municipalities, with cancer and other illnesses cited and dozens of young deaths reported, while officials have identified more dumping sites nationwide and PFAS contamination near Vicenza, underscoring the pope’s Laudato Si environmental agenda.
