Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful condemnation of organized crime and environmental pollution during an emotional visit to southern Italy, where he met families who lost loved ones to cancer and other illnesses linked to decades of illegal toxic waste dumping.
The pope traveled to Acerra, near Naples, in the region widely known as the “Land of Fires,” an area devastated by mafia-linked dumping, burial, and burning of hazardous waste. The visit marked a strong continuation of the environmental agenda championed by the late Pope Francis and came just ahead of the anniversary of Francis’ landmark ecological encyclical, Laudato Si.
Addressing grieving families and local clergy inside Acerra’s cathedral, Pope Leo condemned the “unscrupulous people and organizations” responsible for the environmental disaster and acknowledged the suffering endured by generations of residents.
“I have come first of all to gather the tears of those who have lost loved ones, killed by environmental pollution caused by unscrupulous people and organizations who for too long were able to act with impunity,” the pope said.
The area, once known as “Campania felix” for its fertile farmland and rich culture, has become synonymous with environmental destruction and rising cancer rates tied to toxic contamination allegedly orchestrated by the Camorra crime syndicate.
Last year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Italian authorities had known about the toxic pollution since 1988 but failed to adequately protect residents. The court linked the environmental crisis to increased cases of cancer and other diseases affecting nearly 2.9 million people across 90 municipalities around Naples and Caserta.
During the visit, families presented Pope Leo with photographs and keepsakes of children and young adults who died from cancer or continue battling serious illnesses. Among them was Filomena Carolla, whose daughter Tina De Angelis died of cancer at age 24. Carolla expressed anger toward those responsible for poisoning the land and destroying young lives.
Another parent, Angelo Venturato, whose daughter Maria died of cancer at age 25 in 2016, appealed to the pope to pressure authorities into restoring the contaminated region and protecting future generations.
Bishop Antonio Di Donna told the pope that at least 150 young people had died in Acerra alone over the past three decades, while warning that toxic dumping continues in parts of Italy. He urged those involved in environmental crimes to repent, calling the acts both criminal and sinful.
Pope Leo later greeted mayors from the 90 affected communities and thousands of supporters who lined the streets waving yellow flags and chanting “Papa Leone” during his visit.
Environmental activists and residents hope the pope’s presence will renew global attention on the Land of Fires crisis, which has become one of Europe’s most notorious environmental scandals tied to organized crime.