INTERNATIONAL NEWS - The Vatican has started shutting off its famous fountains amid a prolonged drought in many parts of Italy.
Vatican Radio said the move was in line with Pope Francis's teachings on the environment.
The Pope laid out his ecological fears in a 2015 encyclical, which denounced wasteful practices and highlighted the importance of clean drinking water.
The prolonged drought has hit two-thirds of farmland and has cost Italian agriculture some €2bn ($2.3bn; £1.8bn).
The Vatican has about 100 fountains, including two Baroque masterpieces, and all will be switched off, including those in its gardens.
Vatican spokesman Greg Burke told Reuters news agency it was the first time anyone could remember this happening.
He said it was the Vatican's way of showing solidarity with Rome during the crisis.
Pope Francis shuts off Vatican fountains amid Italy drought
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The Vatican has about 100 fountains and all will be switched off.
Posted on: 09:02 Tue, 25 July 2017
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