via Vatican News:

Pope Francis marked the Day on Friday with a message to the Director General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, José Graziano da Silva.

 “Water is an essential asset for the equilibrium of ecosystems and human survival, and it must be managed and cared for so that it is not polluted or lost,” he said.

The Pope noted how aridity and droughts are spreading to new regions, leading to a lack of potable water for more and more people.

“Access to this good is a fundamental human right,” he noted….

The Holy Father said younger generations need “to value and defend” access to water, saying efforts should begin with raising awareness among those who suffer the consequences of climate change.