CEREMONY FOR THE SIGNING OF THE FAITH LEADERS' UNIVERSAL DECLARATION AGAINST SLAVERY

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS

Casina Pio IV

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

[Multimedia]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank all the religious leaders gathered here for their commitment in favour of the survivors of human trafficking, and all those present for their intense participation in this act of brotherhood, especially toward the most suffering of our brothers and sisters. Inspired by our confessions of faith, today we are gathered for an historic initiative and concrete action: to declare that we will work together to eradicate the terrible scourge of modern slavery in all its forms.

The physical, economic, sexual and psychological exploitation of men and women, boys and girls, currently holds tens of millions in inhumane and humiliating bondage. Every human being — man, woman, boy and girl — is the image of God; God, who is love and freedom, gives himself through interpersonal relations; therefore every human being is a free person, destined to live for the good of others in equality and brotherhood. Every person and all people are equal and their freedom and dignity must be recognized. Any discriminating relationship that does not respect the fundamental conviction that the “other is like me myself” constitutes a crime, and very often an abhorrent crime.

That is why we declare in the name of all people and of everyone of our own Creed that modern slavery — in the form of human trafficking, forced labour, prostitution or the trafficking of organs — is a crime “against humanity”.