Laudato Si’ and the Gift of Water: 9 Resources to Explore

Pope Francis reminds us that the health of our oceans is closely connected to the health of all life on Earth. In this short installment of The Pope Video, he calls for politicians, scientists and economists to work together to protect the world’s seas and oceans.

Water affects nearly everything in life — health, education, food security and the ability of communities to flourish. Yet many people around the world continue to live without clean drinking water.

Charity: Water provides stories and resources for learning more about the global water crisis and efforts to bring safe water to communities in need.

How much water does it take to produce an apple? A pound of chicken? A microchip?

Our water consumption includes much more than the water we see coming from our faucets. The food we eat and products we purchase all have a water footprint.

The Water Footprint Network offers tools for exploring how much water is associated with our lifestyles and the products we consume.

Access to clean water and sanitation are recognized by the United Nations as human rights. Yet many people continue to live without reliable access to these basic necessities.

End Water Poverty brings together organizations working to address water, sanitation and hygiene as matters of human rights and social justice.

What happens before and after we reach for a disposable bottle of water?

The Story of Bottled Water examines the bottled water industry, including the marketing of bottled water and the enormous amount of plastic waste associated with it.

Access to water is not merely a question of availability or infrastructure. It is, at its core,

a question of rights – and of power. Who has access to water, who pays the price for its

scarcity, and who sits at the decision-making table reveals enduring inequalities that run deep through our societies.

Learning about the water crisis can lead us toward solidarity and action.

Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross encourages participants to learn about and advocate for sustainable, community-based water projects working to address the systemic inequity in the global water crisis. The 2026 United Nations World Water Development Report, Water for All People: Equal Rights and Opportunities, delivers a powerful message: water security and gender equality are inseparable.

Water is essential for life, but access to it also raises important economic, political and ethical questions.

The documentary Flow: For the Love of Water and the book Blue Gold: The Fight to Stop the Corporate Theft of the World’s Water, by Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke, are recommended in Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross as resources for exploring the privatization of fresh water and the effects of globalization on the world’s water supply.

World Water Day, observed every year on March 22, celebrates water and raises awareness of the global water crisis.

It provides an opportunity for individuals, Passionist communities and ministries to learn about water consumption, begin conversations about local and global water concerns and identify ways to take action.

Water conservation is not only about individual behavior. It also involves public policy, cooperation and long-term planning.

The World Water Council works to mobilize action around critical water issues, including water security, resilience and sustainability. Learn more about the political dimensions of water security, adaptation, and sustainability. 

Learn, Reflect and Act