Earth Hour, Father Fortunato: “The Dome of Saint Peter’s will be turned off to raise awareness of respect for our Mother Earth”
VATICAN CITY, 23 MARCH – “On the occasion of the Earth Hour initiative, the lights of the Dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica will be switched off for an hour starting from 20.30”, declared Father Enzo Fortunato, Communication Director of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican. “A symbolic gesture to raise awareness and to inspire the women and men of our time to respect our Mother Earth and to act against the climate crisis. In his Encyclical Laudato si’, Pope Francis reminds us that the ecological question must be focused on ethics and social justice, and that what is happening to the earth, “our common home”, is an unprecedented challenge that regards our responsibility towards others and the future generations. By switching off the lights of the Dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica for Earth Hour, we join in prayer and action, bearing witness to our wish to protect the “common home” that God has entrusted to us, so that after this brief period of darkness the light can shine again as a sign of hope for a sustainable future in harmony with creation”.

Directorate of Communication – Papal Basilica of Saint Peter

comunicazioneistituzionale@fsp.va

Father Enzo Fortunato O.F.M. Conv. (Director) +393334440357

Beatrice Offidani (Collaborator) +393461425033