Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
16 June 2009
Pope Benedict XVI has lauded the commitment made by women religious to put a stop to human trafficking and rebuild the lives of those victimized by this phenomenon.
The pope affirmed his support for the initiative in a telegram to a four-day international conference in Rome organized by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The pontiff contended, according to ZENIT, that it is important to bring about "a renewed awareness of the inestimable value of life and an ever more courageous commitment to the defense of human rights and the overcoming of every type of abuse."
The pontiff expressed his "deeply-felt appreciation for the laudable initiative" that has gathered together not only religious and experts, but also members of the International Organization for Migration.
The president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, Archbishop Antonio Vegliò, inaugurated the working sessions by expressing his "admiration for the work already done."
The archbishop suggested "working with the press to ensure adequate information about this grave problem. The more hidden it remains, the longer it will endure."
Archbishop Vegliò assured support to help the religious in their efforts and asked to be privy to the information sharing since, "we also have the need to know and share the ways in which this is proceeding so that we can also contribute to this grand undertaking."
The Archbishop said that the Church has a role that is prophetic and that personal and spiritual formation is needed, so that they know how to deal with difficult and broken lives that need to be reconstructed.
Reports indicate that 2.5 million people are affected by trafficking globally that predominantly affects women and children.
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