As the Church marks the 12th World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, Pope Leo XIV renewed what he called the Church's "urgent call" to end a crime that "gravely wounds human dignity" and undermines authentic peace.
The annual day of prayer is observed on Feb. 8, the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a former slave whose life has become a universal symbol of the Church's commitment to combating human trafficking. Events in Rome this year span several days and culminate Sunday with the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square.
In his message for the occasion, titled "Peace Begins with Dignity: A Global Call to End Human Trafficking," the pope reflects on Christ's greeting after the Resurrection: "Peace be with you."
"These words are more than a salutation; they offer a path toward a renewed humanity," the pope writes. "True peace begins with the recognition and protection of the God-given dignity of every person."
He warns that contemporary conflicts often erode this vision of peace, noting that "in situations of conflict, the loss of human life is too often dismissed by warmongers as 'collateral damage,' sacrificed in the pursuit of political or economic interests."
According to the pope, the same logic fuels human trafficking worldwide. "Geopolitical instability and armed conflicts create fertile ground for traffickers to exploit the most vulnerable, especially displaced persons, migrants, and refugees," he writes, adding that "within this broken paradigm, women and children are the most impacted by this heinous trade."
The pope also draws attention to newer forms of exploitation, including what he calls "cyber slavery," in which victims are coerced into criminal activities such as online fraud or drug smuggling.
"In such cases, the victim is coerced into assuming the role of perpetrator, exacerbating their spiritual wounds," he writes. "These forms of violence are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a culture that has forgotten how to love as Christ loves."
Faced with these realities, Pope Leo XIV urges prayer and concrete awareness. "Prayer is the 'small flame' that we must guard amidst the storm, as it gives us the strength to resist indifference to injustice," he writes, while awareness helps uncover "the hidden mechanisms of exploitation in our neighborhoods and in digital spaces."
The pope also expresses gratitude to those working on the front lines to assist victims of trafficking, including international Catholic networks such as Talitha Kum, and acknowledges survivors who now advocate for others.
In Rome, events marking the World Day include an online global pilgrimage of prayer, a youth formation day, and public awareness initiatives. The observances conclude Sunday, Feb. 8, with the Angelus prayer with Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter's Square, followed by a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols in collaboration with the Santa Marta Group.
Entrusting the initiative to the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita, the pope calls Catholics to work for a peace that is more than the absence of war — a peace, he writes, that is "unarmed and disarming," rooted in full respect for the dignity of every person.
This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
