Pope: human trafficking a crime
of the “commercialization of the other"
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| Pope addressing participants in the conference on human trafficking in the Vatican, April 11, 2019 (Vatican Media) |
Pope Francis on April 11 addressed participants in a Vatican
conference that examined the implementation of the Pastoral Orientations on
Human Trafficking.
By Robin Gomes
Pope Francis on Thursday condemned trafficking in human
beings as one of the most dramatic manifestations of the “commercialization of
the other”, a crime against humanity that disfigures both the victims as well
as those who carry it out.
“Those who commit this crime do not only harm others, but
also themselves.” “In its many forms, it constitutes a wound ‘in the body
of contemporary humanity’", a profound wound in the humanity of those who
suffer it and those who carry it out,” the Pope told participants in a
conference studying the implementation of the Pastoral Orientations on Human
Trafficking by the Vatican’s Migrants and Refugees Section.
Commercialization of persons
The Holy Father lamented the “growth of individualism and
egocentricity” in our times, that tend to consider others in a merely
utilitarian perspective, attributing value to them according to criteria of
convenience and personal advantage. This is essentially a question of a
“tendency towards the commercialization of the other,” which the Pope said he
has repeatedly denounced. And “among the most dramatic manifestations of
this commercialization is the trafficking in persons,” the Pope said.
Using the words of Jesus in John’s Gospel as the yardstick
of the Church’s mission of mercy – “I have come that they may have life and
have it in abundance” (John 10:10) – Pope Francis said that
“trafficking disfigures the humanity of the victim, offending
the person’s freedom and dignity.” “At the same time, it dehumanizes those
who carry it out, denying them access to ‘life in abundance’.”
The Pope explained that trafficking constitutes an
unjustifiable violation of the freedom and dignity of the human being willed and
created by God. For this reason, he said, trafficking it is to be
considered a “crime against humanity”.
Combatting trafficking
On the contrary, all actions aimed at restoring and
promoting the human dignity of the survivors of trafficking are in line with
the saving mission of Christ and His Church. This, the Pope said,
benefits our own humanity, opening the way to the fullness of life, the
ultimate goal of our existence.
The Holy Father expressed admiration for those in local
Churches and the many religious congregations who work, including networking
with others, in order to fight the scourge.
He noted that much has been done and is being done in the
fight against trafficking, but that much remains to be done. He
encouraged the coordination of various pastoral initiatives, both at local and
international levels, and encouraged that they join forces to tackle the
problem in countries of origin, transit and destination of the people being
trafficked.
In order to be more effective, the Pope said, the Church
needs also take the help of other political and social actors.
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