“The life of sailors or fishermen and their families is very difficult.” With these words, Pope Francis began his video with the proposed prayer intention for Christians for this month of August.
The pope lamented the precarious situation—even of forced labor—many of these people are facing. He also warns of the danger of this profession due to the competition of industrial fishing and the problem of pollution. The European Maritime Safety Agency reveals in a report that, between 2011 and 2020, there were 745 fatalities and nearly 9,000 injured among maritime workers.
That's why Pope Francis asks to pray for “all those who work and live from the sea” and for their families.