"We cannot accept that so many brothers and sisters are exploited in such a despicable manner", the pontiff said on February 7 when he received at the Casa Santa Marta a delegation of the 'Talitha Kum' network, promoted by religious orders, on the eve of the 11th World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

"The trade of bodies, sexual exploitation, including of children, and forced labour are a shame and a very grave violation of fundamental human rights", he noted.

Pope Francis stressed that "trafficking is a global phenomenon that creates millions of victims and doesn't stop in front of anything. It always finds new ways to insinuate itself in our societies, at every latitude."

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Out of nearly 50 million victims, over 12 million are minors

"We cannot remain indifferent in front of this tragedy and, just as you do, we must join our forces, our voices and remind everybody of their responsibilities, to fight this form of crime that makes money by exploiting the most vulnerable people", he continued.

The Pope encouraged "to continue to join forces, putting victims and survivors at the centre, listening to their stories, taking care of their wounds and amplifying their voices. This means being ambassadors of hope; and I hope that many people will follow your example during this Jubilee".

Nearly 50 million people are estimated to be victims of some form of modern slavery worldwide, including over 12 million minors, in particular forms of labour or sexual exploitation and forced marriage, as well as organ transplants. This trend is on the rise, according to estimates on a phenomenon described by the pope as a "crime against humanity".

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Pope calls for global effort against trafficking

Also on February 7, in a message sent for the Day of Prayer and Reflection celebrated the following day, the pontiff stressed that human trafficking benefits from "war, conflicts, famine and the consequences of climate change".

It thus requires "global responses and a common effort, at all levels, to fight it."

The pope urged "in particular representatives of governments and organizations sharing this commitment to join us, comforted by prayer, to promote initiatives in defence of human dignity, for the elimination of human trafficking in all its forms and for the promotion of peace in the world."

The Pope also wondered how it is possible not to lose hope when faced with "millions of people, especially women and children, young people, migrants and refugees, trapped in modern slavery" and where to find new impulses "to counter the organ and human tissues trade, the sexual exploitation of children, forced labour, including prostitution, drugs and weapons trafficking."

He urged not to get used to injustice, to "remove the temptation of thinking that certain phenomena cannot be defeated."

He also called for the promotion, "with courage and effectiveness, of initiatives aimed at weakening and countering economic and criminal mechanisms that profit from trafficking and exploitation."

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