The first U.S.-born pontiff traveled to Acerra, near Naples, where he urged people to reject “temptations of power and enrichment” linked to activities that damage the environment and communities. The visit came as the Vatican prepares to publish Leo’s first encyclical on Monday, a major teaching document expected to address artificial intelligence, warfare and workers’ rights.

Speaking before residents affected by decades of pollution, Leo said he had come to the region to “gather the tears” of families who had lost loved ones to illnesses linked to toxic waste contamination. He criticized what he described as the failure to curb environmental abuses and said those responsible had been allowed to act without accountability for too long.

Crowds gathered in Acerra’s main square to welcome the pope, waving Vatican flags and displaying photographs of relatives who had died. During his four-hour visit, Leo met with victims and reiterated concerns about what he called the “dizzying profits” earned by a small number of actors at the expense of public health, employment and future generations.

The area around Naples, commonly known as the “Land of Fires,” has for decades been associated with illegal dumping and burning of industrial waste. Waste management operations in parts of southern Italy were historically linked to private contractors, some of whom were alleged to have connections with the Camorra, the Naples-based organized crime network.

In January 2025, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Italian authorities had failed for years to adequately protect residents from the consequences of illegal waste disposal in the region, citing shortcomings dating back at least to 1988.

The court ordered Italy to develop a comprehensive database of contaminated sites and improve public communication about health and environmental risks.
Following the ruling, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appointed a senior military official in February 2025 to lead a task force focused on environmental remediation efforts and assistance for affected communities.

Leo has increasingly adopted a more direct tone on social and environmental issues in recent months. His latest intervention places environmental protection and corporate accountability at the center of his public agenda ahead of the release of his first major papal document.

A British woman convicted on terrorism-related charges after traveling to Syria has described her trajectory from personal vulnerability and radicalisation to imprisonment and eventual reintegration into society, offering a detailed account of the personal, legal and social consequences of her actions.

The woman, identified as Shakil, said her early life was marked by instability, including regular visits to her father in prison. She described a determination during adolescence to pursue a different path, excelling academically and enrolling at university to study psychology.

However, at age 20, she entered into a relationship that she said quickly became controlling. Within a year, she had married and left her studies.Shakil stated that the relationship resulted in social isolation and restricted communication, including periods during which she did not have access to a phone.

She distanced herself from family members, citing fear of disclosing her circumstances. During this period, she became involved with individuals who facilitated her travel to Syria via Turkey. She later told authorities that she concealed the truth from her family out of concern that she would lose access to her child.

Following her return, Shakil was released on bail and allowed limited contact with her son. She described this period as the most difficult phase of her life, marked by severe emotional distress and close monitoring by family members concerned about her safety.

After several months, she was formally charged with joining the Islamic State group and encouraging acts of terrorism, based on digital communications and social media activity during her time in Syria.In court proceedings, prosecutors presented messages in which Shakil expressed support for extremist causes and encouraged others to join her.

One message indicated a desire to die as a martyr. Additional evidence included photographs recovered from her phone, among them an image of her young child holding an assault rifle. Shakil denied the charges, arguing that she had not formally joined the group and that her actions were influenced by coercion and surveillance within Syria.

The presiding judge rejected her account, citing inconsistencies in her statements and the nature of the evidence. The court emphasized the risks posed to her child, including exposure to extremist ideology. Shakil was found guilty on both counts and sentenced to six years in prison.

Her case unfolded against the broader backdrop of the territorial defeat of Islamic State, marked by the fall of Baghouz in March 2019. Around the same time, another British national, Shamima Begum, re-emerged in a refugee camp.

Begum had left the United Kingdom as a minor and later became the subject of international attention when her citizenship was revoked by the British government on national security grounds. Authorities argued that she was eligible for citizenship elsewhere through her family, a claim that has been contested in ongoing legal proceedings.

Shakil drew a distinction between her own case and that of Begum, while acknowledging similarities in their circumstances. She expressed the view that Begum had been groomed as a minor, but argued that differences in their experiences, including the duration of time spent in Syria, shaped their respective outcomes.

Following her conviction, Shakil served approximately half of her sentence, including time spent on remand, before being released under strict probation conditions. These included geographic restrictions, limits on contact with family members, electronic monitoring, and a curfew.

Despite these constraints, she secured employment in multiple roles, including cleaning, hospitality and administrative work, often holding more than one job simultaneously.After completing her probationary period in 2021, Shakil began to speak publicly about her experiences.

She participated in a documentary and media appearances aimed at raising awareness about online grooming and radicalisation. She described her actions as the result of vulnerability and manipulation, while acknowledging public skepticism regarding such claims.

Efforts to establish a charitable initiative focused on educating young people about extremism did not materialize, which she attributed in part to a lack of public trust. She continued to receive negative reactions online but indicated that such responses did not significantly affect her.

In the years following her release, Shakil reported gradual improvements in her personal circumstances. Contact with her son was eventually restored, and she described rebuilding relationships with family and establishing a stable social network. By 2024, she indicated that she had reached a level of stability that had previously seemed unattainable.

More recently, she has used social media platforms to engage with audiences on topics including relationships, self-esteem and personal development. While she does not regularly discuss her past, she views her current lifestyle and public presence as part of a broader effort to demonstrate the possibility of rehabilitation.

Shakil remains subject to long-term monitoring requirements and continues to report regularly to law enforcement authorities, a condition that will remain in place until 2034. She stated that she accepts these measures as part of the consequences of her actions.

Her account reflects the intersection of personal vulnerability, extremist recruitment, legal accountability and reintegration challenges, illustrating the long-term implications of involvement in conflict zones and proscribed organisations.