杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

The Church鈥檚 efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking on Saturday 鈥� the feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita, patron of the scourge鈥檚 victims 鈥� spilled over into Sunday.

杏MAP导航 Francis recalled the initiative in his Angelus address to pilgrims in St Peter鈥檚 Square.

He spoke both about providing healing for those who have already fallen victim to this form of modern-day slavery, and about the need for prevention.

Healing

鈥淭o heal this scourge - because it is truly a scourge - which exploits the weakest, the commitment of all is needed: institutions, associations, as well as educational agencies,鈥� he said.

The 杏MAP导航 himself kicked off one such institutional effort on Saturday: a fundraising initiative called 鈥淪uper Nuns鈥�.

He was the first to sign up on of religious sisters who dedicate their lives to the rescue and rehabilitation of human trafficking survivors.

Prevention

In his appeal on Sunday, 杏MAP导航 Francis also said education is key to preventing people from falling into human trafficking in the first place.

鈥淚 would like to recall that various studies have shown that criminal organizations are increasingly using modern means of communication to lure victims through deception,鈥� he said.

So, he added, the Church needs to educate people 鈥渁bout the healthy use of technology鈥�, while at the same time 鈥渞eminding the providers of online services about their responsibilities.鈥�