Summary
As part of the 12th World Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, Pope Leo XIV issued a message titled “Peace Begins With Dignity: A Global Call to End Human Trafficking.” Observances began on February 8, the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who serves as an international symbol for the Church’s commitment against human trafficking. The annual observance included events in Rome spanning several days and culminated with a prayer ceremony in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. In his message, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that true peace must be founded upon recognizing every person’s God-given dignity. He highlighted how contemporary conflicts often dehumanize people by dismissing the loss of life as “collateral damage” for political or economic reasons. These dynamics provide fertile ground for human traffickers to exploit vulnerable groups such as displaced persons, migrants, and refugees. Pope Leo XIV also addressed newer forms of exploitation, including cyber slavery where victims are coerced into criminal activities like online fraud or drug trafficking. He emphasized that these acts inflict deep spiritual wounds on the perpetrators. The Pope called for prayer and increased awareness to combat human trafficking, noting it can only be effectively addressed through collective action and intercession. Key figures involved in this initiative included Cardinal Vincent Nichols and representatives from international Catholic networks such as Talitha Kum. The observances concluded with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Nichols in collaboration with the Santa Marta Group on February 8. Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude to these organizations for their efforts, underscoring his belief that lasting peace cannot be achieved through mere absence of war but rather requires an “unarmed and disarming” approach grounded in profound respect for human dignity.
Key Topics
Pope Leo XIV, Human trafficking, Cyber slavery
