From his office, Pope Francis sent a video message to the people of Rosario—a major city in Argentina that is plagued by drug trafficking. The Pope denounced that this situation has worsened due to political, judicial and economic complicities. And he pointed out that it is necessary to work in two specific areas.
POPE FRANCIS
It is necessary to work not only against the supply, but also on the demand for drugs through prevention and assistance policies. The silence of the State in this matter only naturalizes and facilitates the production, consumption and commercialization of drugs.
The Pope stressed that the poor are the ones who suffer most from these injustices and encouraged the authorities to promote education in the most vulnerable areas. He added that the Church has a fundamental role in caring for these communities.
POPE FRANCIS
The parish is the Church that becomes a neighbor. It is the community where everyone can experience being loved. For many vulnerable children, adolescents and young people, it will be perhaps the only experience of family they will have the opportunity to know.
Pope Francis concluded his message by recalling that the local Church is always called to “accompany the families of victims who have lost their lives because of violence, those who live under drug addiction and those who are in prison and seek reintegration.”
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TR: AT
