Pope Francis and thousands of visitors and pilgrims at his general audience prayed for the victims of the earthquakes that devastated the region along the border of Turkey and Syria. Bishop David Malloy, International Justice and Peace Chairman, called for prayer and financial aid for the victims and relief workers.

The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Union of Superiors General designated February 8 as an annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. February 8 is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.

Pope Francis recently concluded his historic visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. He prayed with South Sudan’s Christians for peace and spoke about the important role of women in peacebuilding.