VATICAN - Scalabrinians: "The Pope's words on trafficking testify the need for concrete global policy"

Friday, 12 April 2019 pope francis human trafficking missionary institutes human rights

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Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "The words of Pope Francis testify that it is absolutely necessary that all countries in the world must stop building walls (ideal and real) and implement a real policy against human trafficking, a huge crime against humanity. Behind this conduct there is organized crime that exploits the dreams of the poorest to destabilize and guarantee the maintenance of their businesses". This is what Sister Neusa de Fatima Mariano, general superior of the Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters, in conclusion of the international anti-trafficking conference promoted by the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, held from 8 to 11 April in Rome.
The office brought together more than 200 bishops, priests, men and women religious, project coordinators, pastoral workers, representatives of Catholic organisations and foundations and trafficking experts from around the world.
The goal was to facilitate the exchange of experiences, views and good practice in the ministry of the Church, addressing the scourge of trafficking.
Receiving the participants of the Conference yesterday, at the end of the work, Pope Francis reiterated that "All the actions that aim to restore and promote our humanity and that of others are in line with the mission of the Church, as a continuation of Jesus Christ’s salvific mission. And this missionary value is evident in the struggle against all forms of trafficking and in commitment towards the redemption of the survivors ... Much has been done and is being done, but there remains much yet to do". The Pope then continued "so many of our brothers and sisters, innocent victims of the commodification of the human person, let us say the word, without shame:" “commodification of the human person”. We have to say it and underline it because this is the truth. I encourage you to continue in this mission, often risky and anonymous, but precisely for this reason irrefutable proof of your gratuitous giving".
"The commitment of the Church, of the Scalabrinian Sisters, is constant and wants to be a service of awareness, defense and accompaniment - adds Sister Neusa in the note sent to Fides -. Those who do politics out of passion or for work, our leaders (those from all over the world) should make the Pope's invitation their own by carrying out a concrete path against trafficking. A commitment on this front means avoiding deaths at sea, exploitation, violence, it means guaranteeing a truly better future for everyone. The innumerable gestures of solidarity, the extraordinary generosity of some municipalities, some parishes, individual Christians also represent a struggle against trafficking; it is urgent to make choices that give hope to every man and every woman on earth; certainly only one country cannot do everything: real unity is needed". (SL) (Fides Agency, 12/04/2019)