The Pope addressed the participants in the “Global Slavery Index 2023 Vatican Spotlight”, promoted by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and the Australian Embassy: it is necessary to promote a maximum effort to eradicate a phenomenon “that disfigures human dignity”.

What role does faith play in the elimination of contemporary forms of slavery? This was the question asked by participants at a meeting yesterday, 13 November, at the Casina Pio IV in the Vatican, entitled “Global Slavery Index 2023 Vatican Spotlight”. Modern forms of slavery are varied, ranging from forced labour to forced marriage, debt bondage, and all those situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, or abuse of power.

These are manifestations of a “serious social scourge” that “disfigures human dignity” and which must be fought with all possible determination, the Pope said in a telegram signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State, and sent to Cardinal Peter Turkson, in his capacity as Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, which organised the meeting together with the Australian Embassy and the Walk Free organisation.

Francis’ wish, the telegram reads, is for a “renewed attention to the values of freedom, mutual respect, and solidarity”, promoting “a greater commitment to guarantee and protect the inalienable rights of every person” against “every form of slavery”.