Pope Leo braves Rome heat as wildfires rage across Balkans amid relentless European heatwave

ROME — Pilgrims packed into St. Peter's Square on Monday, not just for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul — a public holiday in the Italian capital — but also armed with fans, umbrellas, and wide-brimmed hats to withstand a searing midday sun. As Pope Leo delivered his traditional Angelus message from the Apostolic Palace balcony, the crowd below swayed under a canopy of parasols, a visible testament to the extreme heat gripping much of southern Europe.

Temperatures in Rome hovered near 40°C (104°F), and the holiday offered little relief. The scene at the Vatican was one of devotion mixed with endurance, as pilgrims from around the world sought shade wherever they could find it.

But the heatwave is not confined to Italy. Across the Adriatic, Croatia has issued red-level weather alerts for several regions, including the capital Zagreb and the coastal tourist hubs of Split and Dubrovnik. On the island of Vis, located about 55 kilometres (35 miles) southwest of Split, dozens of firefighters — supported by four firefighting aircraft — are battling a wildfire tearing through pine forests. Strong winds and parched vegetation have complicated containment efforts, and smoke has been visible from the mainland.

The entire Balkan peninsula is suffering under oppressive conditions. Forecasts predict temperatures exceeding 35°C (95°F) across parts of Croatia, Serbia, Romania, and Hungary, with no immediate relief in sight. In neighbouring Albania, emergency crews managed to contain a wildfire near the southern village of Klos that had burned through bushes and olive groves, though officials remain on high alert as conditions remain volatile.

The heatwave presents a complex picture, however. Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society, told Reuters that while extreme heat raises the risk of forest fires, the region has also seen a number of violent thunderstorms, which can temporarily reduce fire hazards. "The storms are very localized, however, and rainfall amounts vary greatly from place to place," he cautioned, noting that some areas may receive little to no precipitation at all.

Forecasters warn that the heat is far from over. Italian Air Force meteorologist Daniele Mocio confirmed that current temperatures are expected to persist for several more days, remaining eight to ten degrees Celsius above seasonal averages. "This is not a brief spike," Mocio said. "We are looking at a sustained episode of extreme heat that will continue to test infrastructure, health systems, and firefighting capacity across the region."

For millions of people — from the pilgrims in St. Peter's Square to the firefighters on the Adriatic islands — the message is clear: this summer is breaking new ground, and the worst may not yet be behind them.