Vatican City: Acea Group and Archbishop Rino Fisichella have unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing the experience of pilgrims and visitors during the upcoming Jubilee Year. These include a new lighting design for the statues in Saint Peter’s Square, the installation of additional water stations throughout Rome, and the launch of an app to help people access drinking water across the city. These efforts are being spearheaded by Acea, Rome’s utility provider responsible for energy, water, and environmental services.

At a press conference held at the Vatican, the projects were introduced by Acea's leadership alongside Monsignor Rino Fisichella, who is overseeing the preparations for the Jubilee of Hope in 2025. One of the standout projects is the lighting overhaul of the 140 statues adorning the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, known as the "Council of Saints." The lighting upgrade was executed by Areti, a subsidiary of Acea that specializes in public and artistic lighting. The renovation uses 280 energy-efficient LED projectors, which will illuminate the statues with minimal environmental impact. Archbishop Fisichella emphasized that this is not simply an aesthetic enhancement, but a way to highlight the spiritual significance of each statue, creating a visual dialogue that reflects the deep religious meaning of the space.

In addition to the lighting improvements, Acea has introduced 14 new "Water Houses" around the city to provide free drinking water to the many pilgrims and tourists expected to visit during the Jubilee. These new stations, strategically placed near key locations, complement the city's existing network of 2,500 "nasoni" fountains. Two of these new facilities, located near the Vatican Museums and at the entrance to the Leonine City, will be blessed by Pope Francis on December 18, symbolizing the profound spiritual and practical importance of water.

To further assist visitors, Acea has launched the “Acquea” app, which geolocates over 150,000 public water points throughout Rome. The app offers detailed information about the water quality at each location and is available in Italian, English, and Spanish.

Additionally, Acea will support the Jubilee of Adolescents, set to take place in April 2025, which is expected to bring together over 100,000 young people. As part of this initiative, Acea will promote water conservation through educational programs in schools, raising awareness about the importance of sustainable water use.

Archbishop Fisichella praised these initiatives, expressing his appreciation for Acea's efforts in promoting sustainability and helping to make the Jubilee Year a meaningful and environmentally conscious celebration.