Pope Francis has launched an appeal to combat “the shameful scourge” of human trafficking, decrying that it “disfigures dignity.”
The Pope’s cry came in a video message for the ninth World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking, released Wednesday, 8 February, the feast of St Josephine Bakhita.
The English language text of the video address given in Italian is below
“I address you, young people, in a special way: I encourage you to care for dignity, yours and of every person you meet. I know it was you who chose this theme: ‘Journeying in dignity’. It is very important: it indicates a broad horizon for your commitment against human trafficking: human dignity. In this way, you can contribute to keeping hope alive, and I would also add joy, which I invite you to preserve in your hearts, along with the Word of God, because the true joy is Christ!
Human trafficking disfigures dignity. Exploitation and subjugation limit freedom and turn people into objects to use and discard. And the system of trafficking profits from the injustice and wickedness the oblige millions of people to live in conditions of vulnerability. Indeed, people impoverished by the economic crisis, wars, climate change and many forms of instability are easily recruited. Unfortunately. trafficking is growing to a worrying extent, affecting primarily migrants, women and children, young people like you, people full of dreams and the desire to live in dignity.
We live in a difficult time, but it is precisely in this reality that all of us, in particular young people, are required to join forces to build networks of good, to spread the light that comes from Christ and his Gospel. The light that will be symbolically handed over in these days to the young people who have come to Rome to represent the organizations that have for years collaborated for this Day of Prayer and Awareness against trafficking. With this gesture you are sent forth, as missionaries of human dignity, against human trafficking and every form of exploitation. This inaugurates a special year of involvement of young people, until the next Day in 2024. Guard this light and be a blessing for other young people. Never tire of seeking pathways for transforming our societies and preventing the shameful scourge that is human trafficking.”
El Papa Francisco ha lanzado un llamamiento para combatir “la vergonzosa lacra” de la trata de seres humanos, denunciando que “desfigura la dignidad”.
El grito del Papa llegó en un mensaje de vídeo para la novena Jornada Mundial de Oración y Reflexión contra la Trata de Seres Humanos, publicado el miércoles 8 de febrero, fiesta de Santa Josefina Bakhita.
A continuación figura el texto en español del discurso en vídeo pronunciado en italiano
“Me dirijo a vosotros, jóvenes, de manera especial: Os animo a cuidar la dignidad, la vuestra y la de cada persona que encontréis. Sé que habéis sido vosotros los que habéis elegido este tema: ‘Viajar con dignidad’. Es muy importante: indica un horizonte amplio para vuestro compromiso contra la trata de seres humanos: la dignidad humana. De este modo, podéis contribuir a mantener viva la esperanza, y yo añadiría también la alegría, que os invito a conservar en vuestros corazones, junto con la Palabra de Dios, ¡porque la verdadera alegría es Cristo!
La trata de seres humanos desfigura la dignidad. La explotación y el sometimiento limitan la libertad y convierten a las personas en objetos de usar y tirar. Y el sistema de trata se beneficia de la injusticia y la maldad que obligan a millones de personas a vivir en condiciones de vulnerabilidad. De hecho, las personas empobrecidas por la crisis económica, las guerras, el cambio climático y muchas formas de inestabilidad son fácilmente reclutadas. Desgraciadamente. la trata está creciendo de forma preocupante, afectando sobre todo a migrantes, mujeres y niños, jóvenes como tú, personas llenas de sueños y deseos de vivir con dignidad.
Vivimos tiempos difíciles, pero es precisamente en esta realidad que todos nosotros, en particular los jóvenes, estamos llamados a unir nuestras fuerzas para construir redes de bien, para difundir la luz que viene de Cristo y de su Evangelio. Luz que será entregada simbólicamente en estos días a los jóvenes que han venido a Roma en representación de las organizaciones que desde hace años colaboran para esta Jornada de oración y sensibilización contra la trata. Con este gesto se os envía, como misioneros de la dignidad humana, contra la trata de seres humanos y toda forma de explotación. Se inaugura así un año especial de implicación de los jóvenes, hasta la próxima Jornada en 2024. Guardad esta luz y sed una bendición para otros jóvenes. No os canséis nunca de buscar caminos para transformar nuestras sociedades y prevenir esa lacra vergonzosa que es la trata de seres humanos.”
This year, 
in which we celebrate the liturgical memory of St. Bakhita, the Sudanese nun who as a child had the dramatic experience of being kidnapped and enslaved and became the universal symbol of the Church’s commitment against trafficking.
The practice began in October 2001, following the 2nd Mercy International Justice Network conference in South Africa, where those present resolved to focus their prayers and action on all forms of violence against women and children, as well as all kinds of racism. The conference opened on the night of September 11 2001 and so the events of that day in New York City deeply affected us as we immersed ourselves in the work at hand.
This week will draw together churches across the globe to “Do good; seek justice (Isaiah 1:17).” The theme is inspired by Isaiah 1:12-18, which laments a lack of justice among the People of God. Yet it also promises redemption by encouraging acts of justice. Like Isaiah, we hope to inspire a renewed desire and effort for justice among Christian peoples around the world. The theme and materials call Christians to recognize that the divisions between our churches and confessions cannot be separated from the divisions within the wider human family.
