Italian bishop calls on churchgoers to pray for rain

ROME (AFP) Jul 12, 2003
A Roman Catholic bishop in northern Italy called on his flock to pray for rain at masses Sunday throughout his drought-hit diocese as the River Po dropped to its lowest level in a century, according to officials.

Local officials warned that a major hydro-electric power station in the Venice region will be faced with closure due to falling water levels.

"We as poor children, beg you to give us rain, so that from the arid earth can grow the food necessary for our physical lives," wrote Bishop Bruno Mazzocato in a letter to be read out Sunday in churches across his northern diocese of Adria-Rovigo.

He urged churchgoers to pray that God would "send down from the skies, to your weak sons, the water to make our land fertile and fill our rivers."

Environmental officials said water for agricultural irrigation was rapidly diminishing, with serious consequences for crops across the northern region.

The level of the River Po had already fallen more than 7.5 metres (over 24 feet) below its normal level, according to rivers official Luigi Maccabelli.

"The water level can drop another few centimetres, but not more," he said.

Porto Tolle power station, which contributes five percent of Italy's power output, faced closure within two weeks.

Major cities like Rome have been hit by power cuts in recent weeks as the electricty network struggled to cope with higher-than-usual demand caused by increased use of air conditioners during a punishing heat wave.

TERRA.WIRE