More "climate change' insanity? When I visited Rome decades ago the flowing (not trickling as in the photo) fountains had been there for centuries bringing in the freshest tasting water via Roman aqueducts. Even then, there was a campaign to regulate this natural resource. Signs saying "'acqua è gratuita" {Water is free} were found throughout the city showing the displeasure of the populace to any control scheme. Now we have this low-pressure shower head approach Hopefully it discourages all the migrants from bathing there.

Just another diabolical inspiration to make people decide it's not worth the trouble to stop long enough to attempt to take Holy Water upon entering the Basilica. All those lost indulgences and purification from venial sins which accompanies blessing oneself with holy water, plus the loss of spiritual protection as well.

I'm sure they're thinking about the next pandemic and how "unsanitary" it is to share holy water from the fonts.

Doesn't this undermine and subvert the Catholic Sacramental Theology of Baptism? By plunging our fingers into the water we recall our dying to self in union with Christ's Death and then withdrawing our fingers from the water we rise with Christ in union with His Resurrection... making the Sign of Cross and uniting ourselves with the Sign of Salvation. The Paschal Mystery in brief form; Christ's Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension.