Dom Irineu Roman: "Prevention is, above all, an act of Christian charity" Disclosure The forecast of a new severe drought in the Amazon led the Metropolitan Archbishop of Santarém, Dom Irineu Roman, to issue a strong warning to the Church and society. In a message released by the Vatican and shared on the platforms of the Catholic Church, the president of Regional North 2 of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), which brings together the states of Pará and Amapá, called for a preventive mobilization in view of the possibility of an El Niño phenomenon of large proportions reaching the region in the coming months. ✅ Follow the g1 Santarém e Região channel on WhatsApp The document was presented during the CNBB Permanent Council Meeting, in Brasília, and expresses concern about the warming of the waters of the Pacific Ocean, a phenomenon that could cause prolonged droughts in the North and Northeast of the country, worsening the effects of climate change in the Amazon. In the message, Dom Irineu highlights that the region still bears the marks of the environmental crisis experienced in 2024, when a historic drought drastically reduced river levels, isolated communities and favored large-scale fires. During that period, Santarém recorded alarming levels of air pollution, affecting the health of the population and putting pressure on the hospital network. "Prevention is, above all, an act of Christian charity", stated the archbishop, defending immediate actions to minimize the impacts of a possible new climate crisis. Now on g1 According to Dom Irineu, the great Amazon rivers, such as Amazonas, Tapajós, Xingu and Tocantins, represent much more than watercourses. They are transportation routes, a source of food, economic sustenance and connection between thousands of riverside communities. With the possibility of a new extreme drought, there is a risk of interruption of navigation, food and medicine shortages and increased social vulnerability in remote areas of the Amazon. The mobilization proposed by CNBB Norte 2 is based on three main fronts: preventive actions to reduce the impacts of drought and pollution, strengthening food sovereignty through agricultural practices adapted to climate change and intensification of campaigns to combat fires, which tend to worsen during periods of drought. The Church's concern is in line with the teachings of Pope Francis, especially in the Apostolic Exhortation "Querida Amazônia", in which the pontiff argues that the preservation of the forest and the protection of the Amazonian peoples are global responsibilities. The document is cited by Dom Irineu as inspiration for regional mobilization. CNBB Norte 2 also intends to expand dialogue with public authorities, community leaders and social organizations to build joint strategies before the effects of the climate phenomenon intensify. The intention is to prevent the current rainy season from generating a false sense of security and compromising the planning of necessary actions. At the end of his message, Dom Irineu reinforces that the defense of the Amazon goes beyond environmental issues. For him, it is a commitment to life, human dignity and the future of the next generations. "Caring for creation is caring for the future of the world", highlights the archbishop. Letter Dom Irineu Disclosure Message Dom Irineu Disclosure