Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with those affected by the wave of fires raging in southern Europe.
He sent a telegram to the Italian and Greek governments, where fires are once again devouring acres of forest and forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.
The Pope says he is very concerned about this situation which, from his point of view, highlights 'the need to carry out courageous efforts' that have long term effects. He says it is important to face the challenge of climate change and to responsibly protect nature.
In just four days, Italian firefighters have had to respond to more than 3,000 fires. Authorities report that the source of many of these is arson. And in Greece, the situation is even worse. In a message on social media, the Greek Prime Minister expressed his regret for the death of two firefighters who died battling a fire. On the island of Rhodes, Greece, 19,000 people were evacuated, one of the largest in its history.
JRB
TR: KG
