Santa Fe archbishop urges ‘moral choices’ on water as reservoir levels shrink to historic lows

Santa Fe, New Mexico, Archbishop John Wester is urging the faithful to come to a full appreciation of the “gift of water,” with the archbishop’s message coming amid historic droughts and low water levels in the western state.

The archbishop’s pastoral letter, “ Uniting for Our Sacred Waters, ” was released this month as fears of declining water reservoirs increased in New Mexico.

It also comes shortly after Pope Leo XIV issued a prayer intention for the care of water. The Holy Father described clean water as a “blessing” but noted that 25% of the world’s population lacks safe drinking water.

“Entire communities and nations need our action and our prayer for the care of water for the blessed relief,” the pope said.

The NASA Earth Observatory revealed this summer that the Elephant Butte Reservoir, the state’s largest, had shrunk to just 1.4% capacity, its lowest since 1971, driven by persistent drought conditions and early snowmelt.

Wester in the pastoral letter urged Catholics to recognize the deep connection between water and the Catholic faith.

“We bless ourselves with water when entering and leaving our churches,” he wrote. “Just as we share and celebrate the…