During his recent visit to Venice, the Pope addressed a number of pressing issues facing the city and its people. For five hours, he spoke about conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as the threats posed by climate change and mass tourism to this historic city. In St. Mark’s Square, before a crowd of ten thousand faithful, the Pope called for peace and reconciliation in war-torn regions, emphasizing the importance of dialogue over violence.
The Pope also recognized the impact of climate change on Venice’s lagoon and cultural assets, urging sustainable tourism practices to protect these precious resources. He visited a women’s prison with an artistic exhibition from the Venice Biennale, where he interacted with inmates and highlighted the importance of restoring dignity and humanity within the prison system. He met with young people outside the Basilica of Santa María de la Salud, encouraging them to disconnect from technology and embrace personal connections and spiritual growth.
Throughout his visit, the Pope expressed concerns about the challenges faced by Venetian inhabitants, including social fragmentation, individualism, and depopulation. He applauded recent efforts to regulate tourism in the city by implementing a visitor fee aimed at preserving its cultural heritage and maintaining a balance between tourism and local life. Venice is a World Heritage Site since 1987; it has encountered severe flooding and urban decay due to these challenges which has drawn global attention to its preservation and sustainability.
The Pope’s visit to Venice was an important engagement with both its historical significance