Pope Francis Condemns Murder of Honduran Environmental Activist

Juan Lopez, a defender of forests and rivers, was killed amid rising violence against environmentalists in Latin America.

Juan Lopez, an environmental activist from Tocoa, Honduras, was shot dead by several men as he returned home from church.
Lopez was a member of the Municipal Committee for the Defense of Common and Public Goods, focusing on protecting tropical forests and rivers from mining and hydro-electric projects.
Pope Francis condemned the killing during his Angelus message, expressing solidarity with those whose basic rights are trampled.
The rural Caribbean region of Colón, where Lopez was active, has seen a surge in violence against environmentalists, with three members of Lopez's organization killed last year.
Global leaders, including the U.S. and the United Nations, have called for a thorough investigation into Lopez's murder, highlighting Honduras as one of the deadliest countries for environmental defenders.