Pope Francis deplored the exploitation of men, women and children who are trafficked and enslaved in a message to a landmark conference in London aimed at stopping human trafficking.
The Pope, who on Monday signed an historic declaration against modern slavery in a meeting of religious leaders at the Vatican, said he was "deeply grateful" to the police chiefs, victims’ organisations, politicians and church leaders from 27 countries who met this weekend.
"Your labours to promote ongoing dialogue on the legal remedies to human trafficking and on the essential care of those who suffer this enslavement are especially important because of the hidden nature of this crime. We must never forget, nor may we ignore, the suffering of so many men, women and children whose human dignity is violated through this exploitation," he said.
The conference at Lancaster House in London, which was to take place on 5-6 December, was convened by the Santa Marta Group, an anti-slavery alliance launched at the Vatican in April
This, their third meeting, was chaired by Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and hosted by Home Secretary Theresa May, who was also to address participants.
Francis thanked the Bishops' Conference and the Home Secretary in his message, and said: "In assuring you that the Church remains steadfast in her pledge to combat human trafficking and to care for the victims of this scourge, I offer the promise of my prayers that Almighty God may bless and guide your efforts."
Kevin Hyland, recently appointed as Britain’s independent anti-slavery commissioner by the Home Secretary, said there would also be an announcement about a new church-led education programme to raise awareness of trafficking issues.
“It goes on right here in our midst, and yet many people know nothing about it,” Mr Hyland, who previously led the Met’s anti-trafficking unit, told The Tablet. “The new programme, though managed by the Catholic Church, will be about reaching everyone, whatever their beliefs, because we need the whole community onside to successfully tackle the horrors of trafficking.”
Seven months on from its inauguration in Rome, the Santa Marta group – so called because many participants in the original meeting in April were accommodated in the guest house in the Vatican where the Pope lives – has begun to take important steps in the battle against human trafficking. It is pioneering schemes that create partnerships where links would have been unthinkable in the past, said Mr Hyland.
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