As the Church prepares to observe the 12th World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking on February 8, Pope Leo XIV has issued a forceful condemnation of modern slavery, describing it as a “grave crime against humanity” that thrives wherever human dignity is ignored.
In a message released ahead of the annual observance, the Holy Father reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to confronting and ending human trafficking in all its forms, including those emerging in digital spaces, according to Vatican News.
Reflecting on the Risen Christ’s greeting, “Peace be with you,” Pope Leo said these words point toward “a path toward a renewed humanity.” True peace, he explained, cannot exist without the recognition of the God-given dignity of every person. “True peace begins with the recognition and protection of the God-given dignity of every person,” he said, warning that modern societies often attempt to impose peace through force rather than justice.
The Pope noted that in times of war and political instability, human beings are frequently treated as expendable. He lamented that people are sacrificed for economic or political interests, a mindset that fuels both armed conflict and human trafficking. According to the Pope, traffickers exploit instability and displacement, creating conditions where vulnerable populations are easily targeted.
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Women and children, he emphasized, bear the greatest burden of this exploitation. “Within this broken paradigm, women and children are the most impacted by this heinous trade,” Pope Leo said.
He also drew attention to the rise of what he called “cyber slavery,” a disturbing phenomenon in which individuals are deceived or coerced through online schemes into criminal activity, including drug trafficking and fraud. In these situations, victims are often forced to participate in crimes themselves, deepening their trauma. “The victim is coerced into assuming the role of perpetrator, exacerbating their spiritual wounds,” the Pope said, adding that such abuses reflect “a culture that has forgotten how to love as Christ loves.”
In response, Pope Leo urged Christians to embrace prayer and awareness as essential tools in resisting injustice. He described prayer as a “small flame” that strengthens believers against indifference, while awareness helps communities recognize and dismantle systems of exploitation, both locally and online.
The Pope stressed that lasting change requires a renewed way of seeing the human person. “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 said, according to Vatican News.
Pope Leo XIV also expressed gratitude for the many organizations and individuals who work tirelessly to assist victims of trafficking, including survivors who now help others escape exploitation.
He concluded by entrusting the World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking to the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita, whose life he described as “a powerful witness of hope in the Lord who loved her to the end.” The Pope called on Catholics worldwide to continue working toward a world where peace is not merely the absence of war, but is “unarmed and disarming,” rooted in full respect for human dignity.
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