Pope Francis: Call for all to battle trafficking, ‘build peace’
Pope Francis opened the New Year with a powerful message to rid the world of human trafficking. Under the theme “No Longer Slaves,” the Pope condemned slavery and human trafficking during the New Year’s Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
“All of us are called [by God] to be free, all are called to be sons and daughters, and each, according to his or her own responsibilities, is called to combat modern forms of enslavement,” said Pope Francis. “From every people, culture and religion, let us join our forces.”
Pope Francis urges union to battle global human trafficking photo/ donkeyhotey
The Catholic leader reiterated a postivie message that peace is always possible.
“Each person, and every people hungers and thirsts for peace; therefore, it is necessary and urgent to build peace!”
Pope Francis pointed attention back at Rome’s handling of the poor as a means to illustrate a global exclusion of “the poor.”
“We need a great daily attitude of Christian liberation,” the pope said, “to defend the poor rather than defending ourselves from the poor, and to defend the weak rather than defending ourselves from the weak.”
Sadly, the Pope point out any geopolitical shortcomings which contribute to trafficking, particularly in Italy where girls are brought in from Albania and the east and funneled throughout Western Europe.
Photo/Sawso.org
