VATICAN - "Paths of Hope" in the Missionary World: Liberation from Old and New Slavery

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "We missionaries are called to set out on a journey to be artisans of hope and to restore dignity to people whose dignity and freedom have been violated," said Comboni Missionary Maria Rosa Venturelli (SMC), who last Thursday presented the third event of the "Paths of Hope" cycle in the "ad gentes" mission, with the theme "The Path of Liberation from Old and New Slavery."

The initiative, born from the collaboration between the Pontifical Missionary Union (PUM) and the Secretariat for Missionary Animation of the Lazio Region (SUAM LAZIO), is intended as a path of missionary spirituality during the Holy Year, which will culminate in October with the Jubilee of the Missionary World (see Fides, 24/3/2025). The protagonists of this third event were the testimonies. The meeting, held in the Roman Basilica of the Holy XII Apostles in Rome, was opened by Father Marc Nsanzurwimo, of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers), who addressed the topic from a historical perspective, recalling the massive campaign against slavery called for by Pope Leo XIII and entrusted by him to Cardinal Lavigerie, then Archbishop of Algiers.
"Around the 19th century, Pope Leo XIII took the initiative to abolish slavery in Africa. He entrusted this delicate task to Cardinal Lavigerie, Archbishop of Algiers, and launched a large-scale campaign against slavery involving influential political and ecclesiastical leaders and other actors in Europe and on both sides of the Mediterranean," Father Nsanzurwimo emphasized in his report. "His strategy consisted of organizing visits to major European capitals, holding conferences, and involving the media."

Father Prosper Harelimana, Coordinator for Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation, Encounter and Dialogue of the White Fathers, outlined the current situation: "Sometimes we are led to believe that slavery is a thing of the past. But today, around 50 million people around the world live in slavery, especially women and children," he said. "We White Fathers work together with governmental, non-governmental, and religious organizations and other people of good will. In Uganda, for example, a project was launched to reach out to victims of human trafficking, to talk to them, and to listen to them." The topic of "Protection and Care for Vulnerable People in a Missionary Context" was also discussed during the meeting, which was moderated and summarized by Father Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen (Ofm Conv), Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Union. Father Romuald Uzabumwana (SAC) reported on the work of the Pallottines, who are active in eleven African countries: "When you go on mission, you meet children and people in need, who are the most vulnerable," said Father Uzabumwana, who also analyzed the various forms of abuse in his report. "Protection and care for the vulnerable are at the heart of the Church's mission, and we missionaries are invited to be the oil of consolation and the wine of hope for these people who suffer in body and soul, as Pope Francis taught us in his message for World Mission Day 2025."
The next meeting is scheduled for September 16 on the theme "The Path to Restoring Divine Dignity to Every Person and Every Creature." (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 19/5/2025)

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