VATICAN CITY. Rome — Denouncing human trafficking as a ‘crime against humanity’, Pope Leo XIV has pledged the Catholic Church’s commit the global scourge that has dehumanized people as mere collateral in the quest for material wealth and riches.
In his message marking the 12th World Day against Human Trafficking, the American pontiff urged members of the faith to help the Church confront and bring an end to this “grave crime against humanity.”
Ahead of the 12th World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, Pope Leo condemned the scourge of modern slavery, which has taken even more disturbing forms in the world’s online societies.
He focused on the Risen Christ’s greeting “Peace be with you,” saying these words offer “a path toward a renewed humanity” which respects the dignity of every person as ‘Children of God.’
“True peace begins with the recognition and protection of the God-given dignity of every person. Yet, in an age marked by escalating violence, many are tempted to seek peace through weapons as a condition for asserting one’s own dominion,” he lamented.
“Human beings are often considered mere collateral damage in war as they are sacrificed for political or economic interests,” the 70-year-old leader of Catholics worldwide.
At the same time, he cited that the same disregard for human life fuels human trafficking, since armed conflict and geopolitical instability create opportunities for traffickers to exploit people on the move.
“Within this broken paradigm, women and children are the most impacted by this heinous trade,” he stressed with conviction to stop the man-made scourge.
Pope Leo went on to note the rise in ‘cyber slavery’, which sees people lured into online schemes and criminal activities like drug smuggling and fraud.
“The victim is coerced into assuming the role of perpetrator, exacerbating their spiritual wounds. These forms of violence are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a culture that has forgotten how to love as Christ loves,” he pointed out.
In the face of such pain and societal challenges, Christians must turn to prayer and awareness, the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost advised to underscore that prayer is the “small flame” that gives (people) strength to resist injustice and indifference, while awareness helps in identifying and overcoming exploitative systems in communities and digital spaces.
“Ultimately, the violence of human trafficking can be overcome only through a renewed vision that beholds every individual as a beloved child of God,” he asserted.
In ending, Pope Leo expressed his gratitude to the many people and networks that work to assist victims of human trafficking, some of whom are themselves survivors of the grave global illness.
“Let us all join the journey toward a world where peace is not merely the absence of war, but is ‘unarmed and disarming,’ rooted in full respect for the dignity of all,” he concluded.
Pope Leo entrusted the World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking to the intercession of Saint Josephine Bakhita, whose life, he said, stands “as a powerful witness of hope in the Lord who loved her to the end.”
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