Pope's Call for Prayer for Water Creates Internet Storm

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Pope Leo XIV is, compared to his predecessor, quite lowkey in how he approaches pronouncements and positions.

Apart from a few soundbites about the War in Iran and deportations in the USA, he has rarely made international headlines for his utterances.

That is not to say that his words do not often cause ripples in Catholic circles.

A post this week for the Month of Creation did just that.

Let us #PrayTogether for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it. #PrayerIntention @clicktopray_en @vaticanIHD https://t.co/rCmSKkqM3b pic.twitter.com/AxWCRT8Z9c

— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) September 1, 2026

While a very normal thing to pray for in light of the church’s universal composition, some were completely incensed.

Much easier to post slop like this than discuss abortion. https://t.co/jXLcR2KaOC

— Cernovich (@Cernovich) September 2, 2026

Can we just devote our prayers and ourselves to Our Lady of Sorrows this month like proper Catholics and stop with the environmental Marxism stuff?

Please. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/HgcNaEBbzq

— Bree Solstad (@BreeSolstad) September 2, 2026

Others came to the pope’s defence.

You can tell when someone hasn't experienced having water come out of the sink looking like iced tea. Or spent three weeks without running water at home. Or had to shower in the rain. Or gotten sick because water is so bad that not even boiling it was enough to make it safe. https://t.co/DR6XUMkzTG

— Edgar Beltrán (@edgarjbb_) September 3, 2026

Bad water destroys our bodies and minds. Being a traditional Catholic is not “Go to Latin Mass and just drink the government’s hormonal cocktail tap water.”

The Pope praying and advocating for clean water is righteous and good and I support him. People mocking the pope for this… pic.twitter.com/WaW7p8hjIV

— Dr Taylor Marshall™️ (@TaylorRMarshall) September 3, 2026