Pope Leo XIV calls for prayer regarding water conservation

Pope Leo XIV has designated the month of September as a time for prayer focused on the care of water. Through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the Pontiff describes water as a sacred gift and a “right without borders” that should be treated with gratitude, justice, and responsibility.

In his prayer, the Pope expresses regret for the commodification of water and highlights the suffering of those who lack access to clean resources, noting that many must travel long distances or face illness due to scarcity. He calls on the faithful to become “pilgrims of the essential,” urging a lifestyle of simplicity that denounces waste and pollution while defending the right of all people to drink without fear or inequality.

The spiritual appeal coincides with global concerns regarding water security. Data from a joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF indicates that hundreds of millions of people still lack safe access to drinking water, facing challenges such as intermittent supply, high costs, or extreme distance to sources.