杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

The original title of the book in Italian is 鈥淒onne crocifisse. La vergogna della tratta raccontata dalla strada鈥�, by Fr Aldo Buonaiuto, a priest of the 杏MAP导航 John XXIII Community.

Mercy Friday visit

In the preface, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalls one of his Mercy Friday visits to a house run by the 杏MAP导航 John XXIII Community for victims of human trafficking. 鈥淚 did not think I would find such humiliated, afflicted and suffering women there鈥�, writes the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淭ruly, women crucified鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis describes listening to 鈥渢he moving and very human stories of these unfortunate women, some of them with their child in their arms鈥�. Afterwards, he says he felt the need to 鈥渁sk forgiveness for the real tortures they had to endure because of their clients, many of whom call themselves Christian鈥�.

Rescue and rehabilitation

鈥淎 person can never be offered for sale鈥�, writes the 杏MAP导航. He goes on to praise what he calls 鈥渢he precious and courageous work of rescue and rehabilitation鈥� conducted by the author, Fr Aldo Buonaiuto, over the years.

The 杏MAP导航 also expresses his awareness of the dangers this work involves, including possible retaliations by crime syndicates for which these women represent 鈥渁n inexhaustible source of illegal and shameful profit鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis says he hopes this book will be widely read. If we are to 鈥渃ombat the exploitation and humiliation of human lives effectively鈥�, writes the 杏MAP导航, we need to tell 鈥渢he stories behind the shocking numbers鈥� of people trafficked. 

Prostitution and slavery

鈥淐orruption is a disease that does not stop on its own鈥�, he continues. 鈥淲e need to raise awareness individually and collectively鈥�, in the Church as well.

杏MAP导航 Francis goes on to affirm that: 鈥渁ny form of prostitution is a reduction into slavery, a criminal act, a disgusting vice that confuses love-making with venting one's instincts by torturing a defenceless woman鈥�.

Prostitution, writes 杏MAP导航 Francis, is 鈥渁 wound to the collective consciousness鈥�. He describes as 鈥減athological鈥� the idea that a woman can be exploited like a commodity to be used and thrown away. Prostitution is 鈥渁 disease of humanity鈥�, he adds, 鈥渁 wrong way of thinking about society鈥�. Freeing these slaves, says 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渋s a gesture of mercy, a duty for all people of good will鈥�.

鈥淚ndividuals and institutions cannot remain indifferent before their cry of pain鈥�, concludes the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淣o one should turn away or wash their hands of the innocent blood that is shed on the roads of the world鈥�.