Pope Francis called a meeting of experts to the Vatican to discuss the problem of forced labor and prostitution around the world and called for the church to step up in the fight against modern day slavery.
The Pope also said that organ trafficking and people smuggling were issues that needed to be eradicated.
Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, told reporters that the pope was heavily invested in the subject of fighting slavery due to his years in Latin America. The pope had invited two experts on human trafficking that he worked with in Buenos Aires to come to the Vatican.
The group that met with the Pope released a statement saying that one of the biggest worries in Latin America is children being used by drug dealers to move product.
The group also said that the church needs to have “zero tolerance” when it comes to prostitution because it is linked to other problems like drugs and violence.
In an age where people are sharing photos of sinful activity all over the world, it’s unusual to see a video of simple adoration of a Christian leader making worldwide impact.
However, the recent photo of a six-year-old boy in awe of Pope Francis has gone viral and has been shared by tens of millions worldwide.
The boy, known only as “Carlos”, is an orphan from Colombia who was adopted by an Italian family. During the pope’s address during “Family Day at the Vatican,” the boy walked up on stage, hugged Pope Francis and then sat in the pontiff’s chair while he spoke to the crowd.
The boy also tried to help other children up to meet the Pope and at one point laid hands on a man that the Pope prayed over.
The Pope took the attention in stride, at one point tussling the boy’s hair and hugging him to his side as he continued to address the crowd.
The Pope’s address encouraged those in attendance to shower love on fellow family members. He said that if families can say “sorry,” “excuse me” and “thank you” that families would be fine.
The Vatican says that over 100,000 Christians every year worldwide are killed for their belief in Christ.
Monsignor Silvano Maria Tomasi stated on Vatican Radio that the “shocking” number comes from murders in mostly the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In addition to the murders, Christians have been forced to leave their homes and see their churches destroyed. Continue reading →
