On this February 8, we celebrate the World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking, the occasion of the liturgical memory of Saint Josephine Bakhita, the Sudanese nun who in her childhood was sold as a slave and was a victim of trafficking.

In his message, Pope Francis expresses that looking at Saint Bakhita "encourages us to open our eyes and ears, to see those who remain invisible and listen to those who have no voice; to recognize the dignity of each one and to act against trafficking and against all forms of exploitation.”

If we close our eyes and ears, if we remain inert, we will be complicit.

Read the full message published by the Holy See.

MESSAGE FROM HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR THE 10TH WORLD DAY OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION
AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

February 8, 2024

_________________________________________________

Walking for dignity: listen, dream, act

Dear sisters and brothers:

Today, in the liturgical memory of Saint Josephine Bakhita, the tenth World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking is celebrated. With all my heart I join you, in particular the young people, who around the world are making efforts to combat this drama of global proportions.

Together we walk in the footsteps of Saint Bakhita, that Sudanese nun who in her childhood was sold into slavery and was a victim of trafficking. We remember the injustice he suffered, his suffering, but also his strength and his path of liberation and rebirth to a new life. Saint Bakhita encourages us to open our eyes and ears, to see those who remain invisible and listen to those who have no voice; to recognize the dignity of each person and to act against trafficking and all forms of exploitation.

Trafficking is often invisible. The media, thanks also to brave reporters, shed light on the slavery of our time, but the culture of indifference anesthetizes us. Let us help each other to react, to open our lives and our hearts to so many sisters and brothers who are treated like slaves. It's never too late to decide to do it.

Thank God there are many young people who participate in the work of this World Day. Its impulse shows us the way, it tells us that against trafficking we must listen, dream and act.

It is essential to have the ability to listento those who suffer. I think of the victims of conflicts and wars, of those who have suffered the effects of climate change, of the multitudes of forced migrants and of those who are subject to sexual or labor exploitation, particularly women and girls. Let us listen to their call for help, let us allow ourselves to be challenged by their stories; and together with the victims and the young people, let us once again dream of a world in which people can live with freedom and dignity.

And then, sisters and brothers, with the strength of the Spirit of Jesus Christ we must turn this dream into reality, through concrete actions that combat trafficking. Let us commit ourselves to pray and act for this cause of dignity: pray and act both personally and in families, in parish and religious communities, in associations and ecclesial movements, as well as in different social and political spheres.

Let us know that it is possible to combat trafficking, but it is necessary to get to the root of the phenomenon, eradicating the causes. I therefore encourage you to respond to this call to transformation in memory of Saint Josephine Bakhita, symbol of those who, unfortunately reduced to the condition of slaves, can still regain freedom. It is a call not to remain paralyzed, to mobilize all our resources in the fight against trafficking and for the restoration of full dignity to those who have been its victims. If we close our eyes and ears, if we remain inert, we will be complicit.

I heartily thank and bless those who work for this Day, and I bless all those who want to commit themselves against trafficking and against all forms of exploitation in order to build a world of brotherhood and peace.

Rome, Saint John Lateran, February 8, 2024, memory of Saint Josephine Bakhita.

FRANCIS