These are religious around the world who fight against modern slavery. The president of this organization, RENATE, thanked Pope Francis for the opportunity to have this meeting.
'Holy Father. We, RENATE, Religious in Europe Networking against Trafficking and Exploitation, we want to thank you for giving us your time and your presence in the midst of your very busy schedule.â?
They not only greeted the pope with affection, but they also thanked him for his commitment to combat human trafficking and exploitation.
Pope Francis recalled that this modern slavery is a crime against humanity.
POPE FRANCIS
'One of the most troubling of those open wounds is the trade in human beings, a modern form of slavery, which violates the God-given dignity of so many of our brothers and sisters and constitutes a true crime against humanity.'
The pope asked for a greater effort from authorities and governments to curb this scourge. He further rejected the widespread indifference to the suffering of the exploited.
POPE FRANCIS
'As you well know, one of the challenges to this work of advocacy, education and coordination is a certain indifference and even complicity, a tendency on the part of many to look the other way where powerful economic interests and networks of crime are at play.'
The pope acknowledged the work of these sisters who often even risk their own physical integrity to save victims from these networks of exploitation. The religious assured him that he is in their prayers and, despite the seriousness of the issue, Pope Francis even made time for a joke.
04.47-04.58
'I pray for you every day.'
'I pray for you every day.'
'I'm Sister Victoria, from Croatia. Everything is written here.'
'In Croatian?'
'No, in English.'
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